Our family loves games. We have played games with our children all of their lives. When the boys were small, and we had long vacation walks, they would soon get tired and complain. So I made up games that encouraged them to walk. For example, I might walk ahead of Richard and the boys, so he could get them to race to me. We played Simon Says and took what must have been thousands of giant steps, then baby steps, then kangaroo jumps, etc. The goal was to be the first to reach a particular tree or post or park bench. Yes, I walked the way Simon said. It’s much more fun when you’re playing! Regardless, it helped move us in the right direction.
And speaking of directions, they read maps, pamphlets, and books about whatever thing we were going to see. Our Grand Canyon trip included lots of stories of cowboys and gun fighters and bank robbers.
Whatever worked without whining. Fun and games just added to the joys of the day. My point, of course, is that we have always been a boisterous group. Loud laughing, calling to each other, lots of kinetic energy. Yes, we were THAT family. And we still are. Except now that our numbers have quadrupled, we are a crowd. That means more of the moving, noise, and play. Four times more people means four times of everything. Ah, the fun!
As much as we love to play together, adults work, kids have school, and the “at-homers” have time on our hands. So we have to make the best of summer. In this 100 degree heat. The only way to play and avoid a heat stroke is to toss in some cooling water, outdoor cooking, and cold watermelon. So, that is exactly what we did. Dusti brought a slip and slide. Rory brought a dragon water sprinkler. Adam hauled a kiddie pool over. And everyone suddenly owned water guns. From little pistols and water balloons to blasters and super-soakers. We were all prepared for a fight.
That means everyone was soaked by noon. So we sat around in front of the fans and ate hot dogs and hamburgers. Then we cut a cold watermelon or two, before changing clothes and calling it a day. Some of us napped here, others ambled over to Adam and Jenny’s house where the A/C is colder before packing up for home.
Family days cannot get any better than this. Except, of course, to find a way that everyone can be together at the same time. It’s unfortunate that big grandies have to work like they are grown people. But they are grown and they do work. Which means we missed them, so we video-called and told the same silly stories to each one. We’ll tell these stories with all the others we’ve nested away. Knowing all along that the games we play are the most important work we do.
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