Breaking Free of Social Norms

Love it? Share it!

Alright, I’m putting myself out there.  This is not a very flattering image of me, but I love it anyway because it was one of those moments.  The type of moment where you are just lost in pure bliss and fun, without regard of anyone around you thinking you’ve lost your mind.  Yeah, I just teeter-tottered with my 12 year old niece and my youngest two children in the middle, yes, my hair is a frizzy mess from ridiculous New Jersey humidity levels, and yep, I don’t care!  Y’all, it’s time to break free!

Do you remember when…

Can you remember the last time you played outside with your kids in the rain, or let them splash in a muddy puddle at the park and get absolutely filthy while everyone just stared at you in horror for “breaking the social norms”?  Maybe you’ve never stopped to take a photo of a gorgeous sunset in the middle of nowhere with cars zooming by, or chatted up the homeless person begging on the corner?  When’s the last time you went down the tunnel slide at the local park, unsure of whether you’d fit or need the Jaws of Life to rescue you?  Actually, let’s get real basic for a sec, when is the last time you laughed so hard your belly hurt about something absolutely nonsensical out in public?  Who decides what the limits are, declares what is socially acceptable or defines normalcy in your life?

TIME OF YOUR LIFE

Listen, I spent years being shy, wondering what she thought. fretting over what he said, worrying about what they were doing.  Why did I care to impress these people that I didn’t know, or people that I knew but would soon lose touch with as I grew up (and out)?  Let me tell you, those were some of the least memorable times of my life, friends.  What were some of the most memorable you ask?  The times when I let go, when I spread my wings, those moments when I let my “freak flag fly” so to speak, were, hands down, the best times of my life.  When you are so caught up in what others are thinking of you, you can’t be fully in the moment, and likewise, when you’re so caught up in the moment, you won’t care what others think.  Those who matter won’t mind, and those who mind won’t matter =)

THE RECKLESS BEAUTY OF A CHILD

Want to learn how to let go, be free and have some fun?  Watch children.  Children do not care.  Literally.  They do what they do and they do it both recklessly and beautifully.  I often wonder if we, as adults, didn’t impose our sheltered and often arbitrary social cues on our children’s innocent actions and words, if they would still grow up to be “old stiffies” like us, or perhaps they’d be a little more carefree and far more relaxed, leading way to not only a less stressful existence, but also a mind that could truly think outside of the box.  Listen, I’m a time and place type of gal, OK?  I’m not saying let our kids hang from the chandeliers in church, or join them in TPing the neighbors house, but to use discernment and common sense, and just take pause for a moment before we are so quick to correct our children for things that are truly not breaking any rules or harming anyone.  What’s so bad about playing in the dirt, sometimes?  Sure, I hate laundry as much as the next mom, but if my kids want to get filthy once in awhile and have a grand ol’ time doing it, I’ll toss them my best towels, take a few Instagram worthy photos, and perhaps even throw on a pair of boots and join them.  No matter what side of the fence we are on when it comes to strictness, I think that we could all use a little more yes and a little less no when it comes to having fun.

BREAK FREE

We were recently at a local park the day after it rained, most of the equipment was dry but the adjacent baseball area was all muddy.  After a good vigorous play, I thought my children had finally had enough, when they suddenly took off sprinting for the largest mud puddle they could set their sights on.  I immediately went to my most serious mom voice and declared a loud, resounding and somewhat slow-mo “Noooo!”, as they hit the puddle running at full speed… thinking they must not have heard me (or, likely, were just ignoring me) I was about to come up with some sort of threat to stop them (imagining their clothes, and my SUV filled with mud in the near future) when an older gentleman having a family gathering nearby stepped close to the fence and said, with a belly laugh, “That’s about the best thing I’ve seen all week right there!”, So, I stopped for a minute and thought about what he said.  I also thought that perhaps some of the other families at the park were silently judging my parenting choices… and ya know what?  I had to agree with the older gentleman by the fence on this one.  The joy on their faces over splashing in these silly mud puddles with their “good clothes” on was simply priceless.  I don’t know about you, but Walmart clothes are cheap, laundry soap is good, and God is great, so… What are you waiting for?  Go get dirty.  Make some memories.  Toss your cares to the wind (or mud) and just Break Free.

What do you think, friends?  Have you ever just let go and had pure carefree fun?  Tell me about it in the comments!

Love it? Share it!