Just Get in the Game, Baby!

Tuesday afternoon. Bright sunshine and lots of fresh, angelic 4- and 5-year-old faces. Shin guards and shiny new soccer balls. Bedford's Preschool Soccer. Matt was so excited to go, because he's all for running around and kickin' a ball, and it thrills him that his neighborhood buddies attend as well. The moms just sit on the sidelines watching the little ones scramble around the field, some fully into it, and some (like mine on this particular day), eyeing the nearby playground and wondering when they can make a break for it. My young "Ferdinand," stopping to smell the roses...or the ragweed.

Another one of my childhood favorites!



20 minutes into the lesson, Matt was done, and he sat down on the field, looking around and holding his own against any one of the young coaches who approached him, trying to encourage his participation. Just like the gentle bull in one of my childhood favs, he was far more interested in the feel of the grass, the blue sky, and yes, the pretty blond female coach who'd occasionally indulge him by walking around the field hand-in-hand (he's such a "player").

I give the kid credit: when he's made up his mind, he really can't be swayed. And as much as I hate to admit it, I was bothered by it. Not that he wasn't the star of the lesson, but that he was choosing not to be involved. Yes, I get that this is what preschoolers do (though I do have to remind myself of that). And no, it's not about my caring whether he truly learns the skills involved in running a ball down the length of a field and scoring a goal. I could care less (or couldn't care less ... you know what I mean) if my child is athletically inclined. I just want him to never hold back. To never fear participating because he's not the best. I just want him to get in the game.

Days of Wine and Roses (and Apples and Sno-Cones, Of Course)

For those of you who haven't met me personally, let me tell you a little about myself. I'm short. I'm a huge fan of the old crooners, like Dean Martin, Ray Charles, and well, sure, Sinatra. It would be an understatement to declare that I enjoy coffee and cop shows. And I love, love, love, love, love the fall. This time of year gives me a renewed energy (I'm kind of a lump in the summer...heat demotivates me). It's the crisp breezes, the falling leaves, and the smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin that gets me going. So this past weekend, Matt, his dad and I were delighted when friends invited us to join them for a fun afternoon at Nashoba Valley Winery's "Kid's Day Off Family Concert." It just seemed like a perfect autumn-y thing to do!

Normally, of course, I'm a little suspicious about these sort of events. I'm all for bringing Matt to places that are designed specifically for the eight-and-under crowd, but let's admit it: most of the time, those venues are far from what the parents would consider entertainment. But my friends assured me that the Kid's Day Off festival was a great way for everyone in the family to enjoy some down time, and I trusted them completely.

Matt (far right) and his buds working off some cider donuts.

They didn't let me down. What a beautiful afternoon, what a gorgeous vineyard, and what a perfect blend of activities for the children and their parents to enjoy. As soon as we pulled into the field and parked the truck, the knots in my shoulder (you know, the ones you earn with a "first-week-at-preschool-and-first-cold-of-the-season" combo) had begun to disappear, and I knew it would be a relaxing few hours. Kids and parents milled about, blankets were strewn across the grass for numerous picnics, and children were dancing to the tunes of "The Folk Tradition" trio. Sheltered in the shade of the gazebo, they played classics like "You Are My Sunshine" (please see my earlier posting, "Having A Moment, Or Not" for more on that one) and kept the kids clapping and shuffling their little feet. After picking out a delicious lunch of burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and cornbread, we just sat and took in the loveliness of a fall afternoon in the country.

When lunch was done, Matt and I headed off to enter ourselves in a candy-corn raffle (I keep checking my cell phone...I take it I didn't win), face painting (we spent 10 minutes in line before Matt decided he didn't want fangs after all), Sno-Cones (which to chose, red or blue?) and an apple art stand, which thankfully, did have green paint (it's M's favorite color...if it's not available, everyone might as well just pack up and go home). The highlight for Matt was the balloon pup that the on site balloon artist crafted for him. Actually, that was the agony and the ecstasy of Matt's time there: he was on Cloud 9 when she handed this creation back to him and then in the depths of despair when it all but deflated 45 minutes later. Of course, by that time, the event was all but over. Balloon Lady had called it a day and my husband had begun that little antsy shuffle he does to signify game time is looming and he's nowhere near his man cave. It was time to head home.

I think the true beauty of this event laid in the fact that it had something for all ages and retained an elegance that appealed to an older crowd. That's not easy to manage, but it's so appreciated by those who can remember--from their not-so-distant past--enjoying dining out at fine (well, at least finer than Chuck E. Cheese) restaurants, seeing movies that didn't involve Pixar, or listening to music that didn't include the alphabet or themes like sharing, potty training, or going to bed when mom or dad say so. Sure, we love to see a look of delight on our children's faces when they're approaching a carousel or gearing up to greet an over sized mouse, but isn't it made that much better when you can shed the title of Chauffeur and actually enjoy the event too? I think so.

I'm happy to say that there are many wonderful events like this in and around the MetroWest area, so the next time you're looking for something that both you and your children would enjoy, head over to my friends at Ziptivity.com! There you can search on your children's interests, a particular date range, and cost (among other parameters) to find just what you're looking for!