Beat The Blahs

I don't know about you, but I'm in a bit of a mommy funk lately. Winter just won't let go, and we're right in the middle of the blech season between winter and spring. Here in Minnesota we're still surrounded by snow, but now it's really dirty snow! I told my husband yesterday that I'm ready to haul out the extension cord and take the hair dryer to our yard to get the miserable stuff out of here!

As a result, I'm brainstorming on how to snap out of it and cheer the whole house up. Here's some things I've come up with.....

• Be a tourist in your own town. We have a little museum right here in town that we've never been to, and our town is only the size of your average parking lot. See what's in your area that you haven't explored and pile into the car (or better yet, walk) to go see your city through new eyes. If you want, go all out and be guests in your own house too. Pull out the hide-a-bed or use the guest room, and treat yourself and each other the way you would company.
  
  
• Use temporary dye and change your hair colors for a day. Yes, the kids too. It comes out! Let them pick new names and personas if they like. You might want to do this when there isn't school or social obligations the next day, just in case it takes more time to wash out than you expect (if you're really concerned). Alternately, you can use wigs, scarves and clothes to change your looks.
  
  
• Bake your child a cake with his name on it, just to say you love him.
  
  
• Write him a card telling all the reasons he's special.
  
  
• Make up a shared scrapbook with her. Gather up photos and mementos from your childhood and hers, then sit down and put them in a book as you write down memories. Start with a baby photo of each of you, what you each weighed and what you were each like as a baby (if you know from your own baby book or parents). Skip ahead to childhood and continue with the side by side entries. For each grade, for instance, say what her hobbies were and yours. She'll get a deeper understanding that you really, truly were a kid once, and you'll both love seeing what you had in common!
  
  
• Volunteer together. Spend time at a local humane society helping walk dogs, go clean up a park, or just go spend time at a senior citizen center to visit residents. Doing something good will make you both feel good!
  
  
• Have a pajama party! Rent some great videos, pop popcorn and snuggle. You can even paint each other's toenails and do face masks if you like. You can involve dad in this too, if he's easy going enough. Paint his toenails or put a mask on him! The kids won't stop giggling for days!
  
  
• Make a memory spot. Find a space on the wall (even inside a closet) or if you rent use the side of a piece of furniture. Get some paint and stamp your child's hand prints on it. Then use a permanent marker to put the date and his name on it. Give him some paints and let him paint a small picture of anything he likes, and then ask him to take the pen and write a paragraph about what this year is like and how he feels, stuff like that. As time goes by, periodically encourage him to make a memory spot in other places throughout the house or his room or wherever you agree on.
  
  
• Write the president. Yep, you got it! Have the kids sit down and each write a letter to the president (or prime minister, etc.). Tell them to introduce themselves and then express their feelings about one or two issues that are important to them. If they like they can insert a piece of artwork too. They should get a response at some point in the mail from the White House, which will make a great souvenir. Make sure you keep a copy of your children's letters for the scrapbook! To write to President Bush, address letters to: President George W. Bush, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500.
  
  
• Do a photo shoot. Grab the funniest, fanciest clothes you can find in anybody's closet and several rolls of film (better yet, a digital camera). Have the kids glam it up, ham it up and generally just have fun.
  
  
• Ask your kids! Tell them you want to make today special and ask for suggestions. Vote on the best or do them all. And if they come up with some neat ones, come back and post them here!
  
  
• And as a freebie, remember that just spending a few minutes with them after they're tucked into bed to tell them how much they mean to you and how proud you are will make a much bigger impression than you probably realize. A five minute long real talk in the glow of a nightlight can be more special than a day full of zaniness. But zaniness rocks too!

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All works on this site Alicia Bayer unless otherwise noted.
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