Being a Kid Again!

This weekend I was lucky enough to watch my mom's cousin's two little girls aged 3 and 5. When people asked me their ages and I told them they gave me the eyebrows raised, are you crazy? look, but these are two of the best behaved little girls I've ever met and I really treasure whatever time I get with them. What's more is when I spend time with them I can be a kid again, playing in the park (trying out two different parks in one day!), bake cookies (though I guess I do this pretty regularly on my own :)), color, watch cartoons, sing songs (that they teach me), and tell bedtime stories (usually a recap of our day told by one or both of the girls). For me, it's an escape from my routine and a breath of fresh of air.

What I noticed this weekend more than anything was how easy it is for kids to live in the moment. At the park, the same slide provided endless entertainment - it was like they were trying it out for the first time, every time. At home, they completely immersed themselves in baking cookies and coloring, enjoying every minute of it. But I think what stood out the most was when we watched an animated Tinker Bell movie for the second time the next morning. As they were watching it a second time, the same parts that frightened them (cue fairy boat about to go down a waterfall) the night before were just as exciting the next day. Granted they're at a different stage developmentally than I am but it made me think about when I watch a movie for the second, third, or umpteenth time, I'm usually thinking ahead or reassuring myself of what happens next instead of just enjoying it like K and W did and do everyday.

I know I talk about living in the moment a lot, but I think it is a really important lesson and something I'm still working on and will always be working on. It was so refreshing to spend the weekend with the girls; they were a constant reminder to not only live in the moment, but also to enjoy it to the fullest every time even if it's the millionth time.