No More Weekend Chores, Let’s Get Creative with the Boys

This post is sponsored by GapKids. Check out all the fun Shine On activities at your nearest Gap store. For event dates and locations, visit Gap’s Facebook page and join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #ShineOn

Working mom
Hectic life
Weekends filled with endless chores
Cleaning, shopping, meal planning

It can be hard to slow down

So much to do
Boring tasks squeezed into two days
Sunday comes
Exhaustion is felt

This past weekend we wanted more
The chores were abandoned
We played
A small trip
An hour away
Walked the mall we haven’t been to in ages

A special treat awaited the boys
Small white tables
Overflowing with colorful paper, puffy stickers, and decorated tape
Devoted time for them to shine on
Create
Experience
Laugh

Their eyes twinkled with delight
Their hands scribbled on the paper
Peeling stickers back
Placing them with precision
Sheer happiness

I snapped some photos
Watched them interact
with the kind man helping them
They were gracious
Answering their questions
Enjoying the moment

When the baby got antsy
He stood up proud
Pushed his chair around
They gathered their colorful journals
Their names adorned on the front

As we left the store with a smile
My mom spirit shining
from watching them grow
There is nothing quite like it
Their excitement contagious

After lunch we explored the playground
Climbing
Running
Jumping
Until they started to fade

We fell into the car
The shine shinning bright
Our spirits high

As I drove home
my fingers drummed on the steering wheel to the music
The two monkeys dozed off to a dream world

It was a day to remember
Living in the moment
Savoring their childhood
Their giggles and laughter
Pure happiness
Innocence

As the sun shines on
I wish to never forget
These sweet moments with my boys

This weekend I challenge you to leave the everyday routines for another day and build magical memories with your children. Gather some craft supplies and get messy. If you happen to live near a GapsKids in select cities, get creative with Merrilee Liddiard of Mer Magic at the Shine On Saturdays special back-t0-school event, which runs through the end of the weekend. From creating geometric masterpieces on canvas using paint and tape to colorful, custom journals to get kids ready for back-to-school, the projects help kids express their creativity!

GapKids stores participating in the Shine On Saturdays event include Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Toronto.

Local DC parents check out last date in our area:

Saturday August 25 — GapKids at Pentagon City
10am-1pm
1100 S. Hayes Street
Arlington, VA

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Tagged as: craft, GapKids, journals, memories, summer, tape, working mom