Focusing on my strengths

I am continuing to work through my thoughts on fun/beneficial activities that I enjoy with my sons.  (I looked at that last post that I wrote at midnight one evening, and thought how sad it sounded, as if I only enjoy three activities with the boys.)  So here are more.  I am making these lists for myself, mostly, as a reminder for those times when I don't know how to fill and hour or so of time in the day.  I am attempting to be more intentional in our playtimes this week, and to see if this improves everyone's overall behavior (myself included).

Things I enjoy:
looking at maps, and geography stuff
building things with leggos and blocks
comparing and sorting rocks and marbles/ collections
making bad music with our pitiful instruments
coloring books and activitiy books
reading
dressing up
walking outside and looking at stuff
bike riding
talking
cuddling
jumping jacks and races

Things that I don't enjoy:
army men/ pirates/ firemen
smashing cars
sand
sitting with blank paper and crayons
glue
pretend eating of pretend food

 

Here is an example of an activity that I despised.  Valentine's cards.  

I had intended on making many of them, for many of you (aunt betsy, aunt kelly, aunt stephanie, aunt shannon, michelle, etc.) but only 4 cards were completed.  The rest of you did not receive any because it was miserable for me, and i ended up yelling at frank at one point, which resulted in him pouting and sucking his thumb at the table, which I felt ruined the whole "cards made with love" feel of the project.