Detoxing From Life A Bit

 Dear Kids, 

Being at Papa and Mimi's house for the last month has been REALLY good for you. 

I didn't realize how much stimulation you were getting from the neighborhood and all the activities that we were part of. Watching you here has been very eye opening to see the detox that has happened.

-You have been detoxing from your expectations involved in "things". The neighborhood we were in was a good neighborhood, but the families were very focused on "things". There were constantly new toys that were being bought by the neighbors. Constantly STUFF that was "cool" and if you didn't have it you weren't "cool". Even with homeschooling, we just noticed how much there was a focus on stuff and on toys and on screens. It's been SO NICE to get away from that and have you guys not be so worried about the next "thing" to get. 

-You have been detoxing from friends. Now don't get me wrong, you have good friends in St. George. But, especially Talia, was spending so much time with friends that it was getting to be too much. You have been detoxing your expectations of how much to spend time with friends. There was too much stimulation going on with friends and not enough of just family time. I only have so much time with you guys and you only have so much time to be together as siblings until you will be off and doing your own thing. I am so glad to have this time away from other people to just focus on family time together. 

-You have been detoxing with arguing. You have been going on the front porch of Mimi's house whenever you have an argument that you need to solve to work it out together. I'm trying not to get involved in the little arguments anymore and have you guys figure it out. It has been fascinating to see what has happened since you have been doing that. You've been working things out together more often and in a better way. You have been playing together A LOT better because of figuring out your communication together. It has been a very healthy and good thing. 

-You have been detoxing from debating with me. You have been running around the house A LOT. Whenever you argue or debate with me you get to run around the house. It is a reset for you and allows you to think about it and figure it out. Whenever you say, "It's not fair!" you get to run around the house. Whenever you are disrespectful to me you get to run around the house... pretty much running is the answer to everything! 

Your expectations of the world around you is changing and I really love giving you more time to be KIDS for a little while longer. Gabe and Talia, you are both growing up so fast and you don't have much more time of just childhood. I've wanted you to keep your childhood as long as you possibly can so you can use your imaginations as much as possible. I've wanted you to have detox time outside and just enjoy nature out there in the backyard. It is a good place to be, at Mimi's house, to help us focus on each other and our lives together more. I'm so grateful for it. 

Please remember as you grow older and as you read this with more wisdom and perspective, that your dad and I did everything that we could to help you, love you, teach you, train you, and walk beside you along the way. We are doing everything we can and everything that God is telling us to do. I know that everything you are experiencing is helping you for your own futures. 

I love you, 

Your Mom