Today was the first warm day that we have had in quite some time. We were hit with a long spell of cold air, strong winds, as well as lots and lots of rain, and today it finally cleared up and actually felt like spring. It was nice to be able to actually get out of the house and be outside in the sunshine, instead of being cooped up inside the house! Although it has been quite cold, all the rain has made the grass in our yard shoot up like you would not believe, and with the lawn mower breaking at the end of last season, well our backyard has been affectionately referred to as ‘the jungle’ for quite some time now. My husband spent the morning fixing the mower, and the entire family spent the afternoon out in the yard working together to get it fixed up and looking more like a yard, and less like a tropical hideaway.

My adopted stepson had a great week in school. This was his first week back after spring break, and after us learning about his not so glowing report card. With both myself and my husband staying on top of him to make sure that all his work is being completed and turned in, as well as the lack of video games which seems to force him into more human interaction, he is actually in great spirits. While he may grumble to others about having us ride him, he honestly seems to enjoy it. It seems to make him feel as though he is important, something that he has a problem feeling on his own, so when he has to have his hand held through things, so to speak, he actually perks up and gets into better than usual spirits.

I have not seem him be so willing to work in a long time, as I saw him today. He seemed to march around the yard, taking whatever task had been assigned to him with the utmost importance. Running over to hear what his next chore was once his current task was completed, or was called for a favor. He delighted in being needed. From front yard to backyard he actually ran, ran I tell you, gathering tools cracking jokes and generally enjoying himself while working. Had I not witnessed it first hand, I would have laughed at the storyteller for the tallest tale ever spoken!

The entire family got into working together, moving the swing set to a better location in the yard, sprucing up the trampoline, charging the Power Wheels Cadillac, mowing, edging, weed whacking, and weed pulling. The kids were even nice to one another. I think I may have the water tested to make sure there are no toxic chemicals in it, which would attribute to their calm demeanor towards each other!

While yard work never would have crossed my mind as a great way for the family to work together and actually have fun in the process, it was actually one of the best days that we have had together in a long time. There was something for everyone to do, everyone felt needed and important, and everyone pitched in without complaining. Feeling needed and important, as well as trusted with the yard machines, really helped my adopted stepson to come out of his shell and bond openly with the entire family. At one point I left to get gas for the mower and the weed whacker, and he asked just before I left if I could grab him a cream soda, a passion that the two of us share. When I arrived back with the gas about ten minutes later, he peered into the car, saw the soda sitting in the cup holder, and with a sudden hug around my neck he leaned in through the car window exclaiming, “you remembered!” How he thought that this steel trap of a mind (see I know my family will not log on here to dispute that so I can say it!) would forget the soda in a ten minute round trip, I do not know.

He seems to be so afraid of being so unimportant, of simply fading away into the sunset one day and no one will notice, that even the tiniest act of ‘I thought of you,’ such as bringing back the soda that he requested, can make him feel as though he is ten feet tall. I actually received two impromptu hugs from Mr. Don’t Touch Me today, a huge step for him. Who would have thought that an overgrown yard, and a few cold sodas could make for such a day of family bonding?

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familyeducation.com
Check out this site for more activites that families can do together inculding both indoor and outdoor activites!

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