Tend to Your Wildflowers as They Bloom
by Aurelia Williams

Whether we see them or not, wildflowers bloom with each passing year. They blanket uninhabited mountainsides with carpets of beautiful color with each season. Our children bloom with new attributes to their personalities with each passing day as well:whether we take notice or not. Time has a funny way of slipping away from us right under our noses, and we must be careful not to miss out on the beauty of everyday.

Sure, we all have floors to clean, laundry to wash, bills to pay and running around to do day after day. All the chores we do are for the purpose of providing a safe and clean environment for our families, but the more important task at hand is to take notice of our children's emotional and spiritual needs.

It's very easy to get into a strict schedule:off to school, do chores in between, home from school, homework, dinner, bath, and then bed. Day after day we stick to our schedules and rely on things remaining the same for the sake of sanity.

Having a schedule is wonderful; in fact it's a great way to provide stability for our children. However, there are times when we need to break away from our schedules; be free to have fun and spend time sharing in our children's childlike spirit!

Make time to enjoy your children:play tea party, army men, board games or whatever suits their fancy! Playing with your kids is not only fun for them, but it's also relaxing for you. For a brief moment in time, you're not the waitress, disciplinarian, dietician, or taxi driver:you're just "ma" having a good time with your children.

Just this once, don't yell at the kids for running down the hall laughing out loud because your favorite television show is on:turn off the T.V. and run down the hall with them and play a game or two of hide and go seek!

Loosen the bun from the back of your head and get some dirt under your fingernails and dig for worms on a hot summer day; and then go rinse off under the sprinkler with them, clothes and all!

click here to continue reading...

Top News Headlines from CNN Video: British hostage has killed himself One of five British hostages captured in Iraq last year has committed suicide, the kidnappers said in a videotape obtained by The Sunday Times. A written statement displayed on the videotape says the hostage died May 25, four days before the first anniversary of his abduction, the London-based newspaper said. Saturday Jul 19th, 3:55 PM Corpse may be link to mystery newborn The body of a woman has been found at the apartment of a Pennsylvania woman who arrived at a hospital with a newborn baby earlier this week. Andrea Curry-Demus told police she paid $1,000 for the infant. Evidence in the apartment indicates a recent childbirth, the medical examiner said. Saturday Jul 19th, 2:01 PM Iraqi PM reportedly backs Obama's plan Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was quoted in a German magazine as saying that he backs a proposal by Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops within 16 months. Al-Maliki's office later said his remarks were "not conveyed accurately." Saturday Jul 19th, 3:11 PM Obama meets with troops in Afghanistan Sen. Barack Obama made his first visit to Afghanistan today before he embarks on his tour of the Middle East and Europe aimed at bolstering his foreign policy credentials. Saturday Jul 19th, 12:31 PM Tropical storm warning issued for Carolinas Winds in a tropical depression that formed late Friday near the Carolina coast were approaching tropical storm strength Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said. Saturday Jul 19th, 2:00 PM Food from NPR Tiny Texas Cafe Fills Up After Barbecue Award Every five years, Texas Monthly chooses the best barbecue in a state that reveres smoked meat. Snow's BBQ in Lexington was unprepared for the onslaught of customers following its first-place win. Friday Jul 18th, 9:42 AM Is Fast Food Tasty When You Know the Caloric Toll? Fast food restaurants in New York will start getting fined Friday if they don't post nutrition information. We talk to Times Square restaurant-goers about whether they still have an appetite for that five-piece fried chicken meal once they can see the calorie count. Friday Jul 18th, 9:00 AM Eat Healthy Without Going Broke As part of the program's Cheapskate Week, author Dr. Rovenia Brock, a nutritionist, is joined by Jonell Nash, of Essence magazine, who wrote the article "Healthy Food Shopping for Less!" in this month's issue. The two discuss how to eat healthy on a limited budget, and which foods you might be worth a little extra cash. Thursday Jul 17th, 8:00 AM Forget The Granola: Camp Cooking Goes Gourmet Camp cooking doesn't have to mean dehydrated, over-salted soups and powdered potatoes. With a little experimentation and forethought, most cooks can turn out fantastic meals from scratch — even outside of a kitchen. Tuesday Jul 15th, 8:42 PM Traditional Wine Pairings Thrown Overboard Natalie McLean, author of Red, White and Drunk All Over, joins Host Liane Hansen to discuss how to select the best wine for dinner. Modern fusion cuisine and new wines throw traditional rules to the wayside. Sunday Jul 13th, 4:00 AM

Today's Latest from Entertainment Weekly '90210': Brenda will be back as... At the CW press tour event, network confirms Shannen Doherty's return on revived series, and clarifies her role 50 biggest Emmy snubs: No. 50-26 Our effort to send a little love to actors and shows that unfairly got the cold shoulder in awards seasons' past Heath Ledger: Before 'Dark Knight' Remembering the key performances that form the late actor's legacy, now crowned by his role as the Joker 22 best comic-book movies ever See why 'Dark Knight,' 'Iron Man,' and 'Hellboy II' all earned a place in the pantheon this summer 25 greatest movie musicals ''Mamma Mia'' is a crowd-pleaser, but it's an understudy among the all-time ''all singing! all dancing! best Most Popular Headlines from BusinessWeek The Best Global Design of 2008 Europeans, Asians, and Latin Americans took more International Design Excellence Awards than ever. And students made a strong showing. Thursday Jul 17th, 7:07 PM The College Credit-Card Hustle How universities and alumni associations profit by marketing undergrads to financial giants—like Bank of America. Friday Jul 18th, 1:07 AM Stocks: The Dividend Defense Finding smart stocks with fat yields can help investors through a down market. Wednesday Jul 16th, 8:07 PM The Real Action Is in Private Jets Pricey fuel be damned. It's full speed ahead on orders for $3 million-plus business aircraft—often from Asia, Russia, or the Middle East. Tuesday Jul 15th, 7:07 PM CBS Talks Departures Network executives deny that news anchor Katie Couric is headed out the door, but confirm William Petersen will leave hit crime drama CSI. Friday Jul 18th, 11:07 PM