New Beginnings

Today is the first day of spring. Even though the weather's a bit dreary in So. Cal. today, the birds know it's spring. They are chirping away like mad, eager to celebrate new beginnings, as the flowers come back to life and cherry blossoms abound.

Spring is my favorite time of the year. The weather is mild, but there could still be a rain storm or a heat wave around the corner. I like not knowing which extreme (if either) we'll get. I love the sense of hope and promise that comes with spring.

It's a good time to try new things, to set out on an adventure. The possibilities are endless. So this year, why not try something new? Learn a language or take up a new hobby. Paint a picture, plant an herb garden, learn how to play the piano.

Go ahead. Try something new. What have you got to lose?

Fitness and Fun Times

When our children are young, it takes every bit of energy we have to keep up with them. Once they learn to walk, the race is on as we try to match our activity level to theirs.

However, as our children grow, they become less dependent on their parents as playmates and prefer the company of their friends. That's only healthy and natural, and it gives us parents a much needed break from constantly looking for ways to entertain the kids. Besides, as their strength and athletic abilities grow, we may not be able to keep up.

That is when it becomes so important to find some sort of exercise routine that we enjoy and will stick with over time. We don't want our own health to fail just as our kids are growing up and moving out. After all, we want to be in good shape for the day those grandchildren start arriving.

Visit my blog at http://buzz.prevention.com/community/category/stressfreemom for several articles on staying in shape whild still having fun.

Vacation Time

It's August, so the baseball camps are all done, and it's officially vacation time. We leave tomorrow for a camping adventure in Idyllwild. I've only been there once before. My friend Pam took us to her mom's house for the weekend when we were still in college, so it's been....a really long time!

It's always fun to check out a new camping spot. This one has "partial shade," so we're bringing a shade structure with just in case. We borrowed a dutch oven from friends, so we're going to try to bake cinnamom rolls at the campsite. Should be an adventure!

No time to camp this summer? Just set up that tent in the backyard, blow up those air mattresses, set out the sleeping bags and go for it. You don't have to go far from home to have a great time outdoors.

A Night at the Fair

Corn dogs, cotton candy, turkey legs and deep-fried twinkies! Hawkers and clowns and the Peking acrobats! Does it get any better than that?

This was the first time in years that we went to the fair without the kids. That meant we missed certain parts of the fair, like the midway (sigh of relief), the wild rides (another sigh of relief) and the pig races (a really big sigh of relief.) Not that those things weren't fun, but this year I had all the time in the world to wander through the arts and crafts building and marvel at the talent displayed there. The paintings were stunning, the photos amazing, the table settings innovative and the collections lots of fun. It was a slower, more relaxed trip to the fair and I liked it. I guess there's plenty to embrace about this empty nest thing.

Don't Forget to Have Fun!

We're well into the summer and it seems that life is busier than ever. Many households have two parents working full time and kids enrolled in summer school, followed by after school care. Not that different from the rest of the year. But summer is supposed to be different.

Make some time this summer to go camping. If you don't have the gear or can't devote an entire weekend, pack a picnic lunch and get up to the mountains or over to that lake. Spend a day hiking or relaxing while you listen to that unique sound the wind makes when it blows through the trees.

Take in a ball game. Nothing is quite the same as listening to the crack of a wooden bat as the crowd cheers for the home team. Can't get to a big league park? Support your local minor league team. Even the single A games are pretty impressive to watch. And the antics of the mascots make the breaks between innings as entertaining as the game itself.

Get to the beach if you can. It's a wonderful way to spend a day. The sound of the waves rolling in is soothing and I never cease to be amazed by the sheer power of the ocean. Feel the warmth of the sand under your feet and the cool refreshing splash of the salt water as a big wave catches you by surprise.

Have a great summer!