Guest Post - Jessica Wick

Chasing Butterflies

These days our lives are busy, rushed, and filled with technology. While technology makes our lives easier it can cause a disconnect with those around you, especially your children. It is important to take the time from your schedule several times a week to enjoy simple activities that will help you bond with your children. My personal favorite – chasing butterflies!

Chasing butterflies is as fun and as simple as it sounds. Do you remember chasing them as a child? We use a camera instead of a butterfly net in our family to prevent any unwanted injuries to our beautiful flying friends. It doesn’t have to be butterflies. It could be flowers, rocks, rivers or anything else you find pretty and exciting. Pick something that you both enjoy finding and make each trip an adventure. It can be a new activity each time.

Keep your camera available during your outings. The pictures are fun to use in a scrapbook or for starting a collection. Keeping a record of your fun is a great bonding experience (do arts and crafts together) and the results are something you will cherish for years to come. You also catch some of the best photos of your children when they are playing instead of posing for the camera.

Keep things simple when you go out to chase your butterflies. Turn off your cell phone and give yourself and your child the time you need to relax and enjoy life. Talk to them about their day and discuss their hopes and dreams. Take the time to connect and know them as well as yourself. It provides the opportunity to be comfortable in each other’s company without expectations.

The goal is not to catch your butterflies – it is to bond with your kids. It is taking the time to be a part of their life in simple ways. Start when they are young and continue it throughout their years for a better relationship. If you make the time to talk about small things they will feel more comfortable coming to you for the big things.

What kind of butterflies do you chase?

Jessica Wick is one of our very own E3Live employees, she enjoys teaching her three children about organic gardening, has a horse, a goat, 2 dogs and a flock of chickens that also love E3Live!