Before your child reaches adulthood, you’ll likely experience about 936 weekends together. If we factor in the first two to four years, when weekends are often filled with napping, feeding, and crying, along with around 30 weekends lost to illness, plus another 200 during the teenage years when they seem to vanish, you’re left with fewer than 400 weekends with your kids.
Now, instead of guilt-tripping you, let’s focus on a more pressing question: Are those precious weekends spent unwinding and recharging as a family? Or are they filled with frantic activities that leave everyone feeling drained? If the latter sounds familiar, it’s time to take charge of your weekends.
This realization hit me years ago when a youth sports coach scheduled an 8 a.m. Sunday practice for 6-year-olds. Seriously? This disrupts not just churchgoing families but also busy working parents who cherish their Sunday mornings. For many families, weekends are the sole opportunity to relax, enjoy pancakes made by Dad, or catch up on sleep.
As a result, we made a conscious choice: to limit extracurricular activities on weekends. While we’ve had to be flexible, we prioritize activities during the week. Our weekdays are already packed with rushing to and from commitments, grabbing meals on the go, and managing homework in the car. We’ve had enough of mandatory events, carpool mishaps, and late dinners. So why should our weekends feel the same way?
If your family manages to juggle weekend activities successfully, fantastic! Not every approach suits all families. If your weekends are filled with travel sports and early morning drives, that’s commendable dedication. However, for many of us, just the thought of such hectic schedules is overwhelming. Even checking out families who live that lifestyle on social media can make me feel exhausted.
Sure, my family also attends some weekend sports and educational events, but we limit those to around ten weekends each year. Occasionally, we do need to attend a weekend event, and while it’s enjoyable, it often comes at the cost of family downtime.
As my children grow older, I’ve found that weekends spent at home, where they can hang out with friends, ride bikes, or simply relax, are truly the best. Boredom sparks creativity, and I remember the joy of making my own fun as a kid. Now, looking back, I would give anything for those moments of togetherness, even if it meant sitting on the couch doing nothing.
If your weekends are too packed, don’t feel guilty about scaling back. Gradually eliminate unnecessary obligations and redefine what a fulfilling weekend looks like. Fun doesn’t have to mean constant activity. Remember, bored kids will eventually find ways to entertain themselves.
Also, mastering the art of saying “no” — to both adults and your kids — is essential. Reclaim your family weekends; you’ll be glad you did. Your kids will likely thank you too.
For more insights into managing family life and planning, check out our post about at-home insemination kits; it’s a great resource for those on this journey. Additionally, for concerns about baby products, visit this authority on teething gels. Lastly, for comprehensive guidance on family building options, this resource is excellent.
Summary:
This article emphasizes the importance of reclaiming weekends as family time, advocating for a balance between scheduled activities and relaxation. Parents are encouraged to limit weekend commitments to foster togetherness and allow for creative downtime.