Friday, September 11, 2009

Piecing together our days

Now that the two oldest kids are back in school we're not seeing each other as often as we did over the summer. My 5th grader hardly needs a prompt to give me a complete rehash of her day, but the second grader is another story. When I ask how his day went every day is... (one word said very tony-the-tigerish) "Greeaaaaaat" (and by the way I have proof that isn't always the case, but we won't go there.)

Having an activity to come home to that doesn't plug in or require batteries has been my trick to find out more. Not only does the simple process of putting a puzzle together relax, it brings out stories that otherwise might not be shared.


Besides being a great social activity, solving and putting together puzzles calls for patience and brain power. It helps melt away stress, stay focused and work that right brain.

I won't lie...having 1000 pieces laid out on my dining room table for days on end makes me a little nuts, but it's worth it. I'm finding all sorts of pieces, I would otherwise have missed.

2 comments:

Anke Martin said...

Hi June....my son is the same way, I ask him how was Kindergarten, his reply is always, 'nice'....if I want details I have to ask more detailed...must be with boys.
Puzzles!!!!! I loved to do them a child and did a couple when I was older. My mum said I was really good at it. Making one right now, would be disaster all the time, my daughter would be into it as fast as possible,but when they older maybe we do one as you, as an family project! Have fun together!
Smiles, Anke ;)

Robin Norgren, M.A, R-YT, Spiritual Director said...

First off, you had me at your first pic with the puzzle pieces on the primer - oh I know it goes so fast having 2 who are 17 and 20 and one racing upwards to 4. Your last words about capturing the pieces you would have missed-knockout!