2010 April — A Southern Fairytale

Get Outside. Be Out There.

Seems simple right? A pledge to spend one hour a day for a week outside with your kids, turn everything off and just go outside; exploring, playing, letting imaginations and feet run wild.

That’s what I pledged to do. (you can follow that link and pledge to do it, too) I pledged it as a part of my new position as a Founding Mother for the National Wildlife Federation. This is unpaid and strictly voluntary.. for those who care. oops.. Kim reminded me that I did get a cool retro Ranger Rick t-shirt, so there

So.. Day 1 of our Be Out There Week rolls around and: Rain, Rain and more RAIN! Which normally wouldn’t be a big deal, I encourage the kids to romp and splash in the rain, to play in the puddles because that’s what childhood is for and seriously those are full on some of my best memories from childhood; however, with the Princess recovering from bouts with strep and bronchitis and random fevers… not so much.

So much for Be Out There Day One, right? Nope.. it may not be outside.. but it was active and it was FUN! We took the kids for their first trip to the bowling alley.

I think they liked it

The entire week’s forecast is rain and thunderstorms… You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men moms, right? Well.. I have our sidewalk chalk primed and ready

Because once the rain dries up and the sun peeks out from behind the clouds.. there’s going to be a lot of this:

and this

Because some of my favorite memories from childhood are running with my brothers, playing tag, imaging worlds of hidden wonder and bringing them to life with our words and actions, the place where the branches of the shrubs part is the entrance to the secret garden, the branch that fell from the tree is the sword we used to guard the castle… I vaguely remember TV as a child, I vividly remember the smell of fresh mown grass, the feel of warm concrete beneath my feet and the taste of spring rain on my tongue.

These are the memories I want for my children, the freedom, the sights, sounds and smells of childhood are meant to be of nature and sunshine, not cartoons and video games. The benefits they’ll receive are numerous and immeasurable.

We’ll wait out the rain and even when my pledged week is over.. I pledge to still try to get my kids outside and be out there with them for an hour a day, as often as possible.

I’m really proud and excited that I’ve been asked to be a part of the National Wildlife Federations Founding Mothers.

Here are just 2 of the reasons why I’m excited to be on board with this:

National Association for the
Education of Young Children cites
that play is an active form of
learning that unites the mind,
body, and spirit.
Children who play outside are more
physically active, more creative, less
aggressive and show better concentration.

Here are the other moms on board with me, I’d love you to say Hi to them, too. Some you know, some you may not, all are wonderful ladies.

Jennifer James
Blog: http://www.mombloggersclub.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mombloggersclub

Liz Thompson
Blog: http://thisfullhouse.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thisfullhouse

Tracey Henry
Blog: http://subdivablog.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/subdiva

Kim Moldofsky
Blog: http://hormonecoloreddays.blogspot.com/2006/01/links-to-kims-published-writing.html
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kimmoldofsky

Amie Hurst Adams
Blog: http://www.mammaloves.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mammaloves

Asha Dornfest
Blog: http://www.parenthacks.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/parenthacks

Kristin Sundin Brandt
Blog: http://www.manicmommies.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kristinsb

Anna Fader
Blog: http://mommypoppins.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mommypoppins

Veronique Christensen
Blog: http://www.littleelephants.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/veroniquec

Holly Ambrose
Blog: http://www.tropicofmom.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Tropic_of_Mom

Debi Pfitzenmaier
Blog: http://voices.mysanantonio.com/sabusykids
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MomonMars