13 Ways I Hope To Be A Fun Mom

Dear children,

I get it. I will never be a cool mom. At the end of the day, I drive a minivan, have clothing that is only slightly in style, and make the hard decisions for you, so chances are pretty high that the word cool will never be attached to me. I do, however, promise to be a fun mom where it actually matters.

Here are 13 ways I hope to be a fun mom:

1. Swim every summer. I admit, I occasionally pull the “I don’t want to get my hair wet,” line. Well, watch out, kids! Mama may not go every time, but I promise to get in the water {and go under} a few times each summer.
2. Go on rides with you. I won’t lie, I’m not a huge fan of amusement park rides. But for you guys? Anything 😉 An elephant ear after will be a must. Just sayin’.
3. Play with you daily. I feel guilty saying it, but some days it’s reallllly hard to fully immerse myself in play when my brain just wants to wander to the million work tasks I need to accomplish. But, I know you are happiest when I play LEGO, hide-n-seek and zombies with you, so I’ll give this old body a workout and play, too.
4. Keep items you made that mean a lot to you. I dislike clutter, but gosh darn it, if it makes you happy to keep that wooden snowman you made in preschool in your room year-round, so be it.
5. Take each of you on date nights. I love seeing the bond you all have, but I absolutely adore having just one sticky little hand meld into mine during a special adventure together, even if it’s just a quick trip to the grocery store. I promise to treat you all as equally as possibly in this regard.
6. Allow ice cream for dinner occasionally. I set mealtime boundaries for a reason, but sometimes you just have to live a little. The sheer surprise on your face makes it worth it. Let’s just be sure to put some fruit on there, mmmK?
7. Dress-up for Halloween. Who says this holiday is for kids only? I love it, too. I promise to dress-up, even if it just means a quick cowgirl outfit. I’m a big believer in the family that plays together, stays together.
8. Jump in puddles. I vividly remember how muddy puddles whispered “Come splash in me!” as a kid. Go ahead and jump in them if we aren’t going anywhere important. Shoes can go in the wash later, and who knows — those puddles may stop calling you tomorrow, so we may as well live it up while we can.
9. Allow you to choose clothes for school photos. As long as it’s seasonally appropriate, go ahead and choose what you’d like to wear for photos. It’s important to me they capture who you are, not who I wanted you to be that day. Brushing your hair and teeth are not negotiable, though.
10. Let you hear me sing and see my dance moves. Yes, I love to sing and dance like a crazy person. I don’t really care if I embarrass you, if we’re ever at a wedding together, you bet I’ll be on the dance floor. I want you to see me have the confidence to sing and dance loud and proud so you can sing and dance as an adult, too.
11. Watch scary movies {within reason}. There may come a time in your life you will like scary movies. I loved them as a tween and watched a ton of stuff that was probably inappropriate for my age, thanks to older brothers. I’ll try to be cool with letting you choose, but remember nightmares can haunt you, so choose wisely.
12. Keep memories to remind you of childhood. I loved looking through my photo albums as a kid. I promise to keep printing off the many photos I take for you to see. Along the way, I will tell you stories of what you were like as a kid. Be sure to check your email account for funny things you have said, too.
13. Spend more money on experiences than things. This may be a hard one to wrap your brain around while young, but please trust me that material things come and go, but memories last forever. I will shop at thrift stores for everything so we can experience things and travel to new places. I’m always up for an adventure. Suggestions welcome!

Overall, I’m looking forward to having a lot of fun with you all in the years ahead. Even if I never earn the official title of “cool mom,” I do hope someday I can earn the title of fun mom, and eventually, friend.

Love you all to the moon and back times infinity,

Your Mother

What small things do you do to be a fun parent? I’d love to hear your thoughts!