When was the last time you did something really playful?
As a mom, I try so hard to get my kids to grow up into responsible adults. There are times however when rather than expecting them to be little adults, I need to enter more fully into life with a child-like spirit. Playing with my children has never been my favorite thing to do. I love them, but I graduated from LEGO’s and coloring a long time ago. Although the idea of sitting down to play chutes and ladders with my kids stresses me out, I know that research shows we are actually helped too by interacting with our kids. For instance, one study found that when moms engaged face to face with their infants, their oxytocin (bonding chemical) increased, and cortisol (stress chemical) decreased. Fathers tend to benefit more from physical play while mothers benefit from emotional engagement with their infants.
Too often we grow up and forget how to play. We are called, however, to adopt a childlike attitude about life. This doesn't mean just playing a game of hide-and-seek with your child. There are a lot of ways you can intentionally cultivate a more playful approach to life, and still be a responsible grownup.
Here are 6 ways to do that.
Be passionate. Embrace your passion- if you like something go for it. If you love someone, give them a big sloppy kiss. Embracing your passion will help you find meaningful happiness which actually blocks stress (Frederickson et al 2015).
Do nothing.This is different from being bored which has negative connotations associated with an inability to attend to uninteresting material. Boredom is an affect primarily; it is a feeling of discontent. Kids get bored easily but as adults we rarely have the luxury of just sitting quietly because we love to distract ourselves. If we can clear away distractions for just a few minutes a day, we are better able to focus on what is important.
Be creative. Use your imagination If you have an idea, follow through with it just for fun. Find a creative outlet that gives you the ability to express yourself.
Be generous, without concern that there won’t be enough. Have an attitude of plenty, especially when it comes to having fun with your children.
Stop worrying. Embrace a childlike dependence on the Lord. He will provide everything more if you just lean into Him and trust in your Loving Father.
Ask for help. We become self reliant as we get older. Self-reliance seems to many of us a marker of independence and adulthood. But we are created for community and relationship, and relationships require us to be vulnerable. So ask for help when you need it.
There are times when I still feel like a college age kid, and other times (usually about 830pm each night) when I feel like a grandmother. But regardless of our age, keeping a playful, childlike spirit will help us to cope with the ups and downs of life.
