I play alongside my kids now that they're older more than I did when they were toddlers
We connected in other ways and loved dancing together and being silly throughout the day.
Now they're older, and I love "big kid" toys, like board games and video games, and we play more.
I've been taking care of kids since I was a teenager. It started with babysitting, tutoring, and eventually working as a nanny. When I became a speech-language pathologist in my early 30s, I learned that playing with young children is a huge part of language growth and bonding. For years, I spent my workday on the floor, playing pretend and zooming a car down a track hundreds of times to teach vocabulary and speech sounds.
While I was spending all day with other people's kids, I also had three young kids of my own. As a single mother, after work, I was completely "played out." I couldn't stand the idea of spending even more time sitting on the floor, doing the same repetitive task.
But I knew that quality time and communication were important for my kids' development. Instead of playing with toys, I focused on embodying playfulness. I prioritized meaningful, joyful engagement during everyday tasks.
When we cooked together or did chores, we got silly and danced. When we went on walks, we talked about everything we saw. We rode the ferry, hiked, and tried new cuisines together. Wherever we went, I made sure to keep my phone in my purse unless I really needed it.
When I truly needed time to myself, I made sure to tell my kids we'd spend time together after I recharged. But I'd do so in a soft, developmentally appropriate way by saying something like, "Let's bake cookies in 20 minutes," and setting a timer. Because this was a normal part of our routine, my kids didn't seem to mind. They often played independently or with each other.
From my training, I knew that the most important part was telling my kids the plan in a way they could understand and sticking to it. This built trust, modeled healthy communication, and set kind boundaries.
Now, my kids are 15, 13, and 10. As they've gotten older, we started scheduling designated fun time together to make sure we don't get lost in the rush of dinner, homework, and extracurriculars. Last month, my 10-year-old wanted to wander around the local plant nursery, where he could smell the herbs and buy a vine for his bedroom window. My 15-year-old and I spent time learning to animate our illustrations together on Procreate Dreams. My 13-year-old and I still love baking unique treats, and we use The Great British Baking Show as inspiration.
I've also realized I love "big kid" toys more than I expected. A couple of years ago, we invested in board games for our family Christmas present, and last year, we had a blast playing our first video game together. I love finding new ways to goof off together, and we try to play games together twice a month as a family.
My favorite part of the year with my kids is Thanksgiving, when we travel to a rural cabin. Half the trunk is filled with new board games, rackets, DIY obstacle courses, and craft materials. The best part is that all three of my kids often teach me how to play, and as I learn their games, I learn more about how they think.
My son recently guided me through Roblox, and even though I called on my vintage Nintendo skills when we found Kirby's Return to Dreamland, I still had a lot to learn. As he explained strategies in both games, I could tell he cared about both of us having a good time. He often came to rescue me in Kirby when I couldn't figure out how to get out of a maze or beat a villain. When I truly couldn't understand the point of Roblox after several sessions, my son said, "Figuring it out together is the whole awesome point!"
And he was right. My relationship with my kids has grown and changed over the years. For us, joyful connection is all about discovery and finding ways to make ordinary moments extraordinary.
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With Mars forming friendly angles to both Mercury (around August 14-18) and Venus (on September 15) in your career zone, trusting your inner voice could lead to impressive professional strides. Click through for more on Scorpio. Sagittarius With Mars moving through your groups zone now, you'll be energized to move the ball forward on team projects, communal efforts and any goal you share with likeminded friends and colleagues. You want to feel connected to others and as though you're working on something bigger than yourself, like a humanitarian cause, and this transit fuels that wish. At the same time, Mars is the planet of conflict, after all, so don't be surprised if you experience some rockiness with friends or coworkers, perhaps as a result of you preferring to lead the charge versus serve as a team player. 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The "Loon Lady" on a mission to save Minnesota's state bird: "We need to do better"
It's peak summer on Minnesota's Gull Lake Chain. Boats are buzzing, jet skis slicing and loons are calling. "So it sounds like a territorial challenge that's starting," said Sheila Johnston, listening to loons in the distance. Johnston, known by her nickname "the Loon Lady," has made it her mission to protect loons. "I've heard people say, 'Well this is our lake.' No. This is their lake and we're sharing it with them," she said. It's a commitment that has been growing most of her life. Johnston grew up spending summers on Gull Lake. She and her husband now live there year round. "I love it here, it's our favorite place in the world." she said. The Johnstons' home is filled with reminders of her passion. Loon photographs and artwork can be seen on the walls. Outside near the shoreline, there's a large totem pole with a loon perched on top. "I think they just somehow stir our soul, and so I just feel really connected to them," she said. That connection began with a paddle and a camera. "I love kayaking and I love photography, so I just started combining the two," she said. For years, she quietly observed loons from the water, photographing them, getting to know them and even naming them. "As you get to know more about loons, they're just so complex," she said. Her work shifted from enthusiast to advocate nearly a decade ago, after a busy Fourth of July weekend when she found a dead loon chick in the water, killed by a boat strike. "I just don't think we take very good care of them," she said. "We need to do better." While loons face natural predators like eagles, snapping turtles and large fish, humans are their biggest danger. Boat strikes, lead poisoning from ingesting fishing tackle and fishing line entanglement are the main causes. Johnston raises awareness by talking to boaters and reminding them loons and their chicks are nearby. "Our slogan is watch ahead, slow down, go around," she said. She also hands out lead-free tackle to anglers. "Lead tackle is plain bad. And there's absolutely no reason that we shouldn't have restrictions on lead tackle," she said. Last fall, she started the Minnesota Loon Rescue, a volunteer group dedicated to rescuing, rehabbing and conserving the loon population. "I think we have rescued at least 10 loons this season that were boat strike injuries and fatalities," she said. So far this season, the rescue has also saved seven hooked loons, 18 sick and orphaned chicks and six loons in distress on land. "These lakes are like freeway traffic in the Twin Cities at rush hour, full speed, going through chick-rearing areas," she said. Her advocacy has helped bring caution buoys and signage to alert boaters in loon nesting areas. "I don't think I'll ever stop this mission," she said. "By changing our behavior to loon-safe boating, and loon-safe fishing, we can protect loons and future generations of loons." For Johnston, and all who treasure Minnesota's natural beauty, protecting loons means protecting our home.
