I am a big proponent of bucket lists. Keeping a running record of all the goals I want to achieve, dreams I want to see fulfilled and life experiences I desire is a worthwhile activity. No longer just a private thing, this practice is gaining momentum on blogs and the ever popular Pinterest. Visual images of gorgeous landmarks and incredible adventures pepper the Pinterest pages of nearly everyone I follow.
Intentional living involves acknowledging the small things
The bucket list may be a big thing, but I am starting to take a different approach due to some recent life changing events. My list of all the amazing has given way to more mundane moments. Things like walking through the park, getting ice cream cones, swinging on swings with the kids. When a friend died leaving young children behind I am sure she would have loved to have those moments back. Not only did that experience serve as a painful inspiration, but so did watching an acquaintance lose their young teen daughter in an unfortunate car accident. You really do not know how much time you have to be a parent so it is important to be intentional.
Mundane moments can be inspirational
One of the purposes of a bucket list is to have a written list of specific things that are important to you. Like setting goals or making plans for the future, this list can keep you on track so that you don't let life completely pass you by. The whirlwind of activity parenting creates can be part of the problem. Instead of just looking at wonderful, exotic locales and wild adventures, I have started to write a new bucket list. This one is all about moments I want to share with my kids. My new parenting bucket list is less about big plans for the future and more about seeing the potential in each day.
Mama's new bucket list
The process of writing out this new bucket list has energized my parenting style. Seeing things like feed the ducks or go to a concert together on the list gives me more of a reason to schedule those things into our life. It can be easy to do the same old same old just to get through the day or week, but having a parenting bucket list makes doing the activities feel more intentional.
How do you want to be remembered? What do you want to remember?
When making your own parenting bucket list, jot down things that matter to you, define you and will create memories. Dream about what you would do if money wasn't an issue, but also brainstorm how to incorporate budget friendly fun into your life. A bucket list item could be a conversation that you want to have with your child, or a story you want to share. While we all wish we will be here to see our children grow old, time is uncertain so live intentionally.
More by Sylvie Branch:
7 ways to keep siblings content at sporting events
No More Nagging: 7 Steps to Freedom
