Perhaps they didn’t forget everything from Costa Rica

I was a little disappointed, I must admit, that within 24 hours of being home from Costa Rica – where we had all  gone with virtually no digital media for five weeks – the kids had snapped back to their routine at home of waking up and immediately turning on the TV. They hadn’t even asked in the mornings there – they just woke up and began playing. Yet, they g0t home and suddenly thought to turn on the TV and veg. upon waking up.

I was afraid they’d forgotten all the great lessons of loving life we’d experienced on our trip.

So, I was very happy to see, that indeed, they haven’t forgotten everything from Costa Rica. Today, when they all arrived home, they decided on their own to ride their bikes around the neighborhood and then created an impromptu picnic out by an old oak tree. When they came back home – and almost  got into their video games – they got distracted out on the porch, doing the same things they did on our vacation – playing with reptiles (a baby lizard they found last night), collecting items from around the yard, and setting up toys to build some sort of lizard fortress — making up all sorts of nonsense and play that had them laughing and running back to rejoin the fun for 45 minutes nonstop.

They didn’t forget their love of the outdoors, the wonder of nature and its little inhabitants, so fragile and sweet. They didn’t forget that running around and playing and laughing is much more gratifying than staring at a screen. They didn’t forget that life can be so much fun – being in the moment – that agendas and plans and what you thought you wanted to do may not be nearly as enjoyable as what you are loving right here and now.

And, all without need for mom and dad to “keep the peace” or digital media to “keep them entertained.” Thank goodness — some of what made our summer special has stuck!