BUBBLES

I love to blow bubbles.  They float higher and higher.  The colors swirl.  They pop.  You can even blow bubbles in the winter.  They start freezing, turn white, and shatter.  Oh yes, I love to blow bubbles.

There must be a couple gallons of bubble stuff in the garage and I always have a bubble wand handy to give away.  Kids love bubbles! I guess this means I am still a kid.

Through the years, bubbles have been my “go to” to settle the kids down and to help release my stress level.  Bill used to say if he came home and saw me sitting on the steps blowing bubbles, he knew to go around the block again.  He knew my day had not gone as expected.

I have a bubble theory and used it often when our kids were having a bad day.  You know those times — they cannot settle down.  They will not listen.  They want to calm down but have themselves locked into a mood.  And I would start blowing bubbles.  They would watch and then, without realizing it, they would start chasing the bubbles.

When I volunteered with CASA, family visits could be extremely stressful.  The parents were trying to establish a better relationship with their child/children.  The children never knew what to do or say.  And all the time the visit supervisor is taking notes and the CASA lady is observing.  Yes, family visits can be extremely stressful and can quickly fall apart.  I always had bubbles.

MY BUBBLE THEORY — This is my theory.  There have been no research studies.  No university has published my work.  This theory has evolved from personal experience, but it works.

Think about it.  You have had a really bad day.  Your mind is exhausted and your body wants to shout ENOUGH.  Grab the bubble stuff.  Take wand in hand.  Take a deep breath.  Blow.  And, slowly, as you take the next deep breath and the next deep breath, your body starts to relax.  (Those deep breaths begin the process.) Inhale.  Exhale.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Now, you might be thinking, “I don’t need bubbles for this.”  Yes, you do!

The breathing slows your body down but the bubbles are the key.  They float away.  They distract you.  They seem to carry your worries, anger, and frustration higher and higher.  And the children? No kid can resist bubbles.  They forget why they were angry.  Sisters and brothers chase bubbles instead of fighting.  Soon, they are breathing deep — inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale — as they blow bubbles and watch them float away.

Will bubbles make your problems go away? No.  Bubbles will slow you down and help you focus.  I have seen bubbles pull a child out of a meltdown.  I have seen a family blow bubbles and, slowly - one deep breath after another - find common ground.

I have sat on the back step blowing bubbles.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Watching each bubble float away, until I could put the lid back on the bubbles, stand up, and thank God for the invention of bubble stuff.

You need to buy some bubbles, because I am sure everyone will want to test my theory and there will be a shortage.  Store shelves will be empty.  Husbands will be giving bubbles to their wives for Mother’s Day and wives will be putting bubbles on the list for Father’s Day.  Parents will be giving their children bubbles and children will make sure their parents have an unending supply.  Teachers will have bubbles in their classroom. 

INSTRUCTIONS: Open the bottle.  Take out the wand.  Inhale.  Exhale and blow bubbles.  Look up.  Repeat.

Oh, did I tell you that while you are blowing bubbles is a great time to have a talk with God?