Have you ever played Sardines? In this twisted version of hide-n-seek, one person hides and then everyone else looks for him. Once found, you get in with him, until soon, everyone is packed in (like sardines), laughing and hugging and together.
This is my kids’ favorite game. During a recent round, when my husband hid (and boy is he a good hider!) and I found him, stepped in beside him and then listened to the voices around us, my heart was filled with joy. As one by one they found us and got in with us, we were soon laughing and clinging to one another just to stay standing up. Squeals of delight and giggles burst out and kept coming.
It was here, in the back cleaning closet, that I realized this side of life — the all out laughter, teasing, crazy fun is just as important as the routine and expectations and quiet cuddles.
The thing about cutting loose, blurring the lines of roles & responsibilities is that it can only happen (and still be fun) once routines and expectations have been established.
Three months ago, we wouldn’t have dreamed of letting loose for fear that all we were building would crumble. But we would hope and talk about the days when we would be able to have a bit of all out crazy fun.
Now we can. And it is so worth those months of adhering to a consistent routine and expectations and responses. Life is good — go enjoy it like a sardine — get close to someone.
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I have a book that I found at a library book sale called Playing Sardines (I think). It is a great book for describing feelings as the kids look for the hidden person and join the hider in the secret spot. My students and I had never played this game, so it was fun to read your memoir describing the same game.
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