How to Cultivate Real Magic
The joy, the serenity, the contentment, oh, the innocent curiosity and imagination of children! It is something we all want to bottle and sprinkle on them – and ourselves – in those times when they are not quite so magical.
Five Good Habits
To begin with, there are daily habits that can touch the magic in your children and in your life. Here are 5 Habits of highly successful parents:
- look
- listen
- leer – (just kidding! – although this could spark a moment of hilarity!))
- laugh
- loving touch
Feed the Meter –
When you park your car, you have to feed the Traffic Meter – or you get a penalty. It’s pretty much the same for your child. Pay attention to your child, especially when he/she is asking you something. It’s a 60 second splurge that bonds you to your child.
One minute! To look, listen, smile, maybe laugh, and top it off with your loving touch. And your done – well – you’re never done – but your child will go find his bliss and leave you to yours. Think of that! A minute of your time and attention, and your child is good to go!
Read
Read – you will be a great role model. And read to your children! Click here for reviews and lists of Classic stories.
My husband and I loved the nightly bedtime rituals – especially reading… when you and your child are the lullaby. Such magical moments.
Though, we laugh now, about the nights when we were so tired that we’d fall asleep while reading a chapter book. Evidently, (I am told) I snore… and our kids would sigh, take the book from me and read the end of the chapter themselves!
Dinner Together
Have regular family dinners – sitting around the table – together. No Digital Devices allowed. Enjoy each other in good conversation. Click here for conversation starters.
Down Time
Down Time in your life – easy, quiet time – that is not attached to a Digital Device. Clear the kitchen table and play cards, put out a puzzle, play a board game – together. Or snuggle together on the couch and read another chapter of that great book.
Great Outdoors
Go outdoors and breathe-in the fresh air – the oxygenator! Walk, hike, rake leaves, plant, play a round of sports – together.
DO the real Magic
Think and live like a kid! Full of wonder, amazement, curiosity, imagination… and Laughter. You may want to refresh your Laughter meter from my blog, Laughter Is the Best Medicine. Besides the physical and emotional benefits, here are a few updates on the surprising delights of Laughter.
Laugh
I have often thought of Laughter as a Smile That Sneezed! Children laugh – easily and often, but adults… not so much. Do you know, kids laugh an average of 300 times per day – yet grown-ups are only in the 3-5 laugh range – per day! One of the most successful things to do with your children? Laugh!
Baking with our Grands seems to bring out lots of unexpected laughter. Once, the youngest dumped in the flour and turned on the electric mixer – with flour flying everywhere! – Gasp! LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH! One of the twins solemnly cracked an egg into the batter – and ceremoniously dropped the eggshells in with it! – Gasp! LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH!
Look for – and find – what tickles your funny bone. Stick with those who make you laugh at funny situations.
Make Legends
When something fun, funny, amazing – magical happens – appreciate it! Acknowledge it! Celebrate it! Make it a new family legend! Show others their real everyday magic. Tell your loveadores when – and why – they are special to you. Put notes in lunchboxes – or under a bed pillow. Do more magical things that create joy for others – snail mail cards are super special – just letting others know you’re thinking about them, and why they’re special to you.
Laugh and play with your children – you’ll make magical moments.
Do you believe in magic?
That’s where it all begins. You are magic. Life is magic. EnJOY your real magic: watch the sunrise or sunset; lie on the grass and watch the clouds; visit with family and friends and ask questions – like, When you were young, how did you get to school? Did you go sledding? Ice skating? Swimming? Share – tell and listen – to personal stories; start a jar of appreciations (and read them out loud at the end of each month – maybe around the dinner table); put up a bird feeder and notice all the different feathered friends; buy flowers in winter – put a little vase in each bedroom; clean out that tangled drawer in the kitchen – see what you can create from what you had “collected”.
Magical Ideas
Perhaps these ideas will spark some real Magic in you. You don’t have to force it. The real Magic is in the ‘particulars’, all – magically – coming together, and often bringing a gasp, followed by Laugh-Laugh-Laughs!
If you find yourself wondering, Where is this magic? My magic? Did it disappear? Think about this: our magic does not disappear. We do. And the grand secret is that we can always get it back – any time we like. The magic is always here – waiting for you…. You know.. to turn your…
LIGHT ON!
