Children as Natural Masters of Fun
Ah, a subject matter my 3 ½ year old son, Aiden, knows all too well! Fun comes naturally to him, as the purpose of every moment of every day is truly to have fun. Gleefully, joyfully seeking and searching for what fun can be had right now and right now and right now.
Motherhood has a way of making you forget this. Between the exhaustion, logistics, and invisible load, fun can feel like the last thing on the list. But watching Aiden reminds me daily of what we lose when we sideline joy — and what we gain when we dare to reclaim it.
He wakes in the morning playfully hiding under the covers, as I search for his two little feet. Giggles bellowing below mountains of colorful blankets. Breakfast is served with a side of ever-present dancing and singing, and we don’t walk to the car, we run! “Let’s see who wins!” he announces, because a race is so much more fun than a casual stroll.
It’s been over 100 degrees in Los Angeles recently, and yet Aiden has generated enough excited anticipation for Halloween that we have been to Party City three times in search of the most fun costume ever.
The purpose of life, as I imagine Aiden sees it, is to laugh belly laughs full of enjoyment. Imaginary magic wand in hand, he can transform any mundane moment into an experience to be joyfully indulged in. You see, there is always fun to be had, according to Aiden. No moment, no environment, no activity, no friend is without the potential to be relished.
He looks for it.
There’s an eagerness in the way he seeks it out.
Anticipation builds until, of course, he finds it.
And wherever he is, he manages to locate the fun-feel-good moments tucked inside any speck of time.
Reclaiming Your Inner Magic Wand
Aiden is not alone in his possession of this fantastical ability. This skill that transforms time into a fairytale of limitless possibility. Adults have the very same talent, yet we often forget we can do so. As full-grown adults, we become like Sleeping Beauty—fast asleep to the fun of life.
Oh, the joy we could have if only we allowed ourselves the gift of resurrecting and dusting off our own magic wands from childhood! Yes, you have a wand, and I have a wand, and men just as much as women have a magic wand.
What does yours look like? Remember it. Close your eyes and see it again. Is it a kaleidoscope of colors? Does it have streamers attached to the handle? Perhaps gold and silver glitter floats about happily within its base? Whatever it may be, enjoy imagining it back to life. It is yours to do, to have, to be, and to know the pleasure of living.
Manifestation Starts With Fun and Feeling Good
There are a multitude of fun, feel-good reasons to feel good every day. You see, “finding the fun” in life is a skill set to be mastered. Furthermore, it is a powerful and potent manifestation tool.
Yes, when one finds the fun, one also taps into the feeling of feeling good, which in turn raises one’s vibration, which in turn makes you a magnet for even more fun and exciting people, opportunities, and experiences to flow effortlessly into your life.
This is the core essence of The Law of Attraction, which you have heard so much about:
Finding Fun = Feeling Good = Life Flows.
The Law of Attraction Is Everywhere — Watch the Children
Watch your children manifest abundance with ease. If you don’t have children, watch your neighbor’s children. Sit on a park bench, at the beach, and watch children find the gift of fun available in the present moment.
In many respects, they are the world’s best mentors and life coaches. Not because they have all the answers, but because they remember something we’ve forgotten: joy is not the reward at the end of effort. It’s the frequency that creates more of what you desire.
Children remind us daily how to chase fun, joy, and flow. But let’s be honest—Motherhood, as magical as it can be, is also a tremendous job. It stretches us, tests us, and asks us to keep showing up even when we feel invisible.
That’s exactly why I wrote Good Girl, Bad Mom.
For Every Mother Who’s Ever Wondered, “Am I doing this right?”
You’re not alone. This book blends memoir and manifesto into one powerful reminder: Motherhood isn’t the problem—the fantasy was. Come as you are. Laugh, cry, underline every page. Leave with permission to thrive.
Dr. Dowling has spent years helping people live richer, more joyful lives. She has seen firsthand the magical pairing of psychology and life coaching, which allows people to access their happiest selves.
View Dr. Dowling's articles on Mindbodygreen
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