One hour. I spent an hour playing a game on the old Wii U with my twelve year old tonight. He was so excited to spend that time - he set up the game room and turned on cool overhead lights and was like, “mom this is the best...just awesome.” I played one game. Two. Three. And then even after I said it was best of three I chose to play one more. I could have gone downstairs. Cleaned the kitchen or watched Olympics or scrolled on my phone. I could have read or swept the floor or worked in my computer. Instead, I played a video game with my son. A video game. Not reading, not a board game, but what he wanted. It’s so easy for me to be busy with things that feel important but then so often I miss these simple simple moments. We laughed. I could see his happiness percolating from within. I could see that this moment mattered. Maybe the game wasn’t productive and yet it was more productive on a life level than anything could have been. I’m telling you because I’m the mom who all too easily can say, “Tomorrow....” And then tomorrow doesn’t come. So I’ve been trying to say yes a bit more because these moments are priceless. They don’t last. I know it. My oldest is twenty-five and I knew time is fleeting. So Mario Party with my twelve year old, my youngest, won tonight. And it was wonderful. When it was done he stood up and hugged me and told me, “You’re the greatest, mom.” Remember: a video game for an hour. Not something giant. Simple. Find those moments friends. You will not get them all. Know that. There will be times when the dishes win or work trumps or you just need to chill. That’s okay. Truly. But in the midst make an effort to find these simply moments. Sixty minutes. Priceless. -Rachel #findingjoy