“If you guys can cooperate and get into the car, then, when we get home, we can play Snack Attack”, my husband said to our children as we tried to herd all four of them into our van after a family activity this past summer. My eyes widened and I gave him a questioning look. What in the world is SNACK ATTACK? I thought.
It turns out that “Snack Attack” consists of my husband disappearing into the pantry for a few minutes with a big mixing bowl and returning with an assortment of bite sized snacks, and then instructing our children to gather together while he tosses the snacks directly at them. If a snack hits them (on any part of their body) they are required to eat it. They are quite literally being attacked by snacks.
Our children absolutely adored this game. As they dodged the veggies and dived for the chocolate, they shrieked with delight! I have to add that I laughed and clapped and shouted right along with them. I also gave my husband approving smiles and air high fives. I admire his ability to delight our children in simple creative ways.
“When a man feels an openness in his wife, the nonjudgemental attitude of a true friend, he feels free to be himself, which, strangely, inspires him to want to improve himself— no nagging needed.” Wife for Life, Chapter 20
My husband believes he is more logical than creative. The advent of “Snack Attack” (and many other games he invents on the fly) proves otherwise. Sometimes I forget to appreciate the unique qualities my husband has and uses. He is a different parent than I am (after all, we are different people). I wasn’t always quick to high-five; I used to resent his playfulness with the children because it usually meant that I was the “business parent”, only engaging with them when things needed to get done. (Also, in the past, I would have condemned him for littering the living room with crumbs.)
Thanks to Wife for Life, I am softer now and more able to see that my children are lucky to have a dad who throws snack foods at them to make them laugh, and I now understand that playing with them motivates them so much more than my condescending nagging. How thankful I am for that perspective! I am now also grateful for my husband’s creativity in parenting — and in our marriage.
Besides, crumbs are easily vacuumed.
Husbands are so important to parenting! I have learned to appreciate my husband’s differences too. He is great at being silly to help diffuse situations, I used to be annoyed by this in what I deemed “serious” situations that required a different approach. But I now am so happy for his help and support because it’s easier doing it together.
I really appreciate this post, Lacy. Our children delight in playing with their dad, but over the years, it’s not only stirred the appreciation, but the admiration for my husband in me! Hooray for Dads!
Great post and reminders! Thanks Lacy!
That is a wonderful story and so ds like something my man would do!
Such a fun idea! I can totally relate to the frustration of being the “business parent”! It’s taken me a while to really appreciate how different we are when it comes to handling the kids and how important for them that is. Although we still do things our own way we’ve learned a lot from each other. He’s taught me a lot about being more relaxed and creative and realizing that sometimes I do just have to let the kids be kids.