Creating a Slower Childhood in a Fast-Paced World

 

Somewhere along the way, the world decided childhood need to be rushed.  Schedule became fuller.  Screens became louder.  Childhood became something to manage rather than something to savor.

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But when I look back on my own 80's and 90's childhood, I don't remember a packed calendar.  I don't remember expensive trips, activities or endless entertainment.  I remember simple this.  Long summer evening, drinking out of the house - (Yes, my kids Love to drink out of the hose!)  Dirt between my toes.  Mud fights after a good rain.  Hot days on the lake.  Camping trips. Family dinners.  Church on Sunday.

Those are the memories that stay with us.  And those are the memories I'm trying to create for my own children.

Our family isn't perfect, and we certainly don't get it right every day.  But we've made a conscious decision to slow down and leave some of the craziness to the rest of the world.

We say no to rushing.

Instead of filling every moment, we make room for simple pleasures.

Every morning starts with checking out the sunrise and heading to the barn to feed our hungry ponies.  Then we're off to the garden.  While the world is waking up, we're feeding horses, watering plants, pulling weeds, checking on flowers and enjoying the quiet.  Afterward, it's inside for breakfast and devotionals together.  It's not fancy.  It's not Pinterest perfect.  But it grounds our day in gratitude and reminds us what matters most.

In the summer, you'll often find us heading to the river.  There's something beautiful about spending the day paddling, ( Amazing inflatable paddleboards - do yourself a favor and buy one with an electric pump that connects to the truck or car) floating, splashing and laughing together without a single screen in sight.  (our favorite gear for a river day: Comfy Lifejackets,  Oh and Food - we always need lots of food, this lightweight cooler is the best!)

The best memories are usually the simplest ones.  

We visit local parks, State parks and often look for new spots we haven't yet explored.  

We spend afternoons wandering through the library.  We check out a stack of books and discover new stories.  Our latest favorites for my little one are If you give a mouse a cookie , Frog & Toad & Aesop's Fables.  My teenagers favorite is are anything by Rick Riordan, Trials of Apollo is the latest.  I just finished Home Front by Kristin Hannah - All her books make me cry, I absolutely adore her writing!

We make memories that cost little, but mean so much.

Summer afternoons we slow down, pile in our hammock (this one is great and yes, we all fit!) and do some reading.  

Most importantly, we eat dinner together.

In a world where everyone seems to be running in different directions, gathering around the table each evening feels almost revolutionary.  It's where we laugh, share stories, talk about our day and reconnect.

After dinner, we slip on our shoes, take a walk or sometimes we find our favorite horse, hop on

bareback and take a nice ride.  We talk about our day.  We point out deer and wildflowers in the fields.  We watch the sunset paint the sky.  Sometimes our conversations are deep, sometimes silly, often times they lead to a race!  Either way, we're together.

And every Sunday, you'll find us at church.

Not because we're perfect, but because we need the reminder that there is something greater than ourselves.  It's where our family resets, refocuses and remembers the values we're building our lives around.

The truth is, children don't need constant entertainment. 

They need connection.

They need fresh air daily, time to explore, imagine, create and simply be children.

They need parents who are present more than parents who are busy.

A slower childhood doesn't mean doing nothing.  It means choosing what matters most and letting go of what doesn't't.

It means making room for river trips, garden mornings, library books, family dinners, evening ride and Sunday worship.

It means trading hurry for presence.

It means choosing memories over schedule.s

Years from now, I doubt my children will remember every toy they owned or every activity they attended.  But I hope they'll remember the feeling of home.  The laughter around the dinner table.  The walks and rides after dinner.  The mornings in the barn.  Picking flowers in the garden.  The river on a hot summer day.

I hope they'll remember a childhood that wasn't rushed.

And in a world that never seems to slow down, I think that's one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

What are some simple ways your family slows down and enjoys childhood?

Until next time, may your coffee stay warm and your children stay little just a little longer.

-Maggie