After one hectic, crazy busy week of projects, deadlines, and meetings, the highlight of my weekend was exquisitely simple…. and it all started with itchy skin.
Poor little 2 ½ yr old Jack’s eczema was out of control; cracked, scaly, itchy skin making him an uncomfortable, sad little boy, so I decided set him up in a nice warm bath of chamomile and calendula oil. Watching him soak in soothing bubbles, I looked down at my own cracked, dry feet and thought; Why not join in? So, I rolled up my pants, sat on the edge of the bath and casually plonked my feet into the warm, bubbly medicinal water.
Soon, 4yr old Tyson peered around the corner and without a word, he peeled off his clothes and jumped in.
We were there for over an hour, just the three of us. No tv, no iPad, no iPhone. Just bath toys, silly songs and happy chatter.
So simple, so relaxing, so soothing. The stresses of the week melted away and we made some precious memories.
Reading this article from the Gottman Institute really highlighted for me the simplicity of quality time with our kids. I think we can overcomplicate things so much and believe we must organise events, or play dates or expensive road trips in order to build memories and enhance relationships with our kids but the truth is, they just want us!
Splashing about in our little bath, singing ‘twinkle, twinkle little star’ and making bubble mustaches, brought us closer together than any expensive day out. Because there were no distractions from our happy dialogue.
What a relief! Building memories and relationships with our kids can be very budget friendly, therapeutic, not to mention good for your skin!