As a single parent, I find it’s often difficult to schedule BIG THINGS to do with my kids. Sure, from time to time we can, but those occasions are often few and far between.
However, my kids (especially my son) often get to take part in a lot of little things – whether they want to or not.
My son enjoys “camping out” in my office, and then having his “run” of the classroom after my students leave.
For example, about three times a semester, I’ll show a movie at night where my students can come to watch, participate in a discussion, and earn bonus points
And my son GETS to go with me. But he actually does enjoy.
While most of the movie is going on, he likes to “camp out” in my office. Don’t worry, though, because it’s not exactly roughing it. In fact, he arrives armed with homework, video games, a book, a chess puzzle book, a Sudoku puzzle book, and any other hobby he might be interested in at the time.
He also arrives well invested. He makes sure he has the money to visit both the soda machine and the candy machine. Make no mistake – this is BIG TIME for him. (If he’s really lucky, we might visit a wal-mart in a different town for our summer vacation.)
However, his favorite part is after the class ends. He usually comes down to join me with about 15 or 20 minutes remaining. Then after the students leave, he’s ready to run . . . literally.
In a classroom that features auditorium-style seating, he likes to see how fast he can run up and down every aisle of seats – all the way to the top of the classroom. Then all the way back down.
I always thought he was moving pretty slow . . . until he made me do it one night. I’m either too old, too unathletic, too uncoordinated, or too whatever. But I have a WHOLE new appreciation for his little game.
While he runs, I either have to count the seconds or actually time him. Then after he completes the course, he tries to beat his time. He usually runs his course three or four times every time we have the room to ourselves.
I know what you’re thinking: there is no way you can think that’s exciting.
And you’d be right. It’s not the shiniest, coolest family activity to ever come down the pike. But it’s fun for us
No, my kids and I don’t have the opportunity to do a lot of big things together. But I’m thankful for the time we can spend together, even if it’s just doing little things every day. Because it’s the little things, we learn as we get older, that are really the big things.
Holding together the jello 
I would have thought that was fun as a kid.
Yeah, I think I would have, too. My son sure makes it look fun!
Where’s the video of YOU doing it?
That’s one of those videos that’s so shocking (and yes, some might even say disturbing) that you have to go to the BACK of the store to check it out.