Children should stay home 'til they're 10.

The title of this post is a saying an old family friend of my parents' used to say. And the further along in this motherhood thing I go, I agree with the statement more and more.

Simply put, children do better at HOME.

Don't get me wrong, I like to get out. But every time I go somewhere after I have wrestled to change a diaper, fought to put the boy's clothes on, gathered the diaper bag, a snack, blankets, my cell phone, purse, & any other items needed for the errand, we get in the car and Stephen Small does THIS....

He laughs. I laugh. Then he whines as I force him down in his car seat.

It's a workout for both of us.

Recently, a friend who has a child close to Stephen Small's age asked me..."When do you run errands?"

It got me thinking.

My response: generally, "I don't. (run errands)"

It's not worth it (99.9% of the time). Especially in the days of shopping on-line.

I do everything in my power to keep my errands to a minimum. When I have to go, I go early.

Now I don't want to give the impression that we don't go ANYWHERE. OR that I look down upon moms who are often out and about. If you are one of these moms, I just think you have more energy than me! My hats off to ya. And of course I know having more than one child necessitates going more places i.e. taking older children to school etc.

However, I am quite content with my general policy which is to STAY HOME! And that is my advice to people with small children (for what it is worth).

Quite a few times I have strayed from my policy and run out here and there only to be reminded of why I made the policy in the first place. Life is simpler, better, more orderly when I don't sporadically run out to T.J.MAX.

Oh sure, there are are things we do, places we go...the YMCA, various church activities, friend's houses, the grocery store. (All places within a 1 mile radius of our house.)

But the things and places I avoid are...the mall, Wal-mart, restaurants, dressing rooms, places with crowds and lines! Extra things like window shopping. Even under the best of circumstances, it is just not worth it.

My cousin once summed up my feelings saying..."If you can't get it at Kroger, you don't need it." (Thanks, Bibba) I repeat that quote to myself over and over when I am tempted to run to Target to buy a $12 top.

I write this all in the midst of an inner conflict. I WANT to go to Lowe's to buy paint to finish my half-painted (in a color I don't like) bathroom. But the sensible part of my brain keeps stepping in and saying, "No, there's too much traffic. It will exhaust you. It is just not worth it! Stay home. Read a book. Organize your sock drawer. Blog."

So I think I will (stay home today) and run my errands some other time sans Stephen Small when Grande can keep him at HOME.