The best way to take a moment.

With today's hurried lifestyle, it's important to take a break once in a while.  It helps to reduce stress, which can cause you all kinds of problems.  One of the best ways to take a break, that I have discovered, is to watch your children play.  Sit in a spot where they won't be immediately drawn to you and just observe.  What are they doing?  How do they show their interest in their activity?  What makes it fun?  What are they thinking?

I think this has become one of my favourite things to do.  I love watching our 16-month-old trying to figure out how something works or colouring carefully or examining a blade of grass or even just wandering from room to room.  I wonder what's going through her head, especially when she does things that seem completely silly to me, like go in circles.  I also love it when she realizes I'm watching her.  She smiles real big and comes running over to me for a big hug.  How can you feel stressful after getting a hug from your child?  I also find that it gives me an appreciation for the little things in life, for the beautiful creation, things I'd forgotten about.

So, take a little breather, watch your children discover whatever it is that has captured their interest at this moment in time, and enjoy.