Last updated on November 19th, 2023 at 12:37 am
Weekends are for playing together with family. Some weekends are busier than others but we always try to have that special time with our kids outdoors, come rain or shine. I think it’s so important to get kids outside and away from ipads and tvs. The fresh air is needed being cooped up in a classroom all week too. I haven’t been as good in the past if it’s really windy or rainy to get us outdoors but this year I am looking at things differently. It’s time we get out even if it is just for a few minutes to walk around the block. I notice a huge change in the kids attitudes and overall well being when they get outdoors.
Come weekends also comes visits from Granny. The kids adore her and love having her stay over. During the day we try to go to various parks and do fun things with Granny in tow. We are lucky enough to have several parks in our area that we frequent a lot. Granny likes to come with us to feed the ducks and watch the kids squeal over the swans and run through the woods together with us.
I think last year we did way too many days out and planned so much in our social diaries that the kids were exhausted and I was exhausted. While we made some amazing memories we weren’t cherishing our home time together because we were never home. We were constantly on the go. When the kids asked on a few occasions to just stay home in their sweats I realized they don’t need huge days out to make memories with us. We have done so well the last few months staying home and doing less but feeling like we are spending more quality time together, if that makes sense. We paint in the mornings and we ride our bikes in the afternoon and we have picnics on the carpet in the living room and build tents to watch movies at night. They love these kind of weekends more. I love them more. They don’t cost money or time traveling in the car somewhere. It’s fun at our finger tips.
We stroll through our park on our scooters or bikes to feed the ducks, get some exercise and fresh air and then go for a lovely walk together through the woods. It’s nice to have nature right near us as much as the big city. There is so much to do where we live that we haven’t even explored yet either. The kids love climbing trees and standing on top of a hill shouting, “I am the king/queen of the castle!” Those are the memories I want them to remember as much as I will remember. They run through the piled leaves kicking and laughing as they go along. I also love they aren’t afraid to get dirty or wet and keep on having fun in the midst of it. They love the outdoors.
I also think it’s healthier for them to fall in love with the outdoors more than video games and sitting inside all day. While I wish we had the weather for them that I did growing up so they could be swimming, hiking, and biking and exploring everyday, I am still trying to give them that outdoor life as best I can. I am putting more efforts to do more fun things outside with them even if it’s just drawing on the sidewalk with chalk outside our house or playing in our backyard.
It’s really taking a lot of stress and pressure off to try to plan out where we are going every weekend. It’s nice to be spontaneous and just not have plans for the weekend ahead. We lie in and we eat breakfast together and then we figure it out. It’s much calmer and relaxing. We already have very busy weekdays and weeknights. These moments of walking through the woods or feeding the ducks are calm and relaxing. Don’t get me wrong I love traveling with my children and I love days out with them too. I just think I was trying to do all these things every weekend. We were exhausted from our busy weeks and than exhausted from our busy weekends and we weren’t catching up on that chill out time together. This year, I am finding balance between the two and feeling lighter and a better parent for it too.
I am joining in with MummyDaddyMe for her #ordinarymoments linky. It’s such a great linky to remind us to stop and enjoy those every day lovely moments we have with our kids. It could be a simple walk through the woods like us or coloring a picture with your little one. Whatever you do together that is a moment you want to remember and cherish because we should cherish those little moments as much as the big moments in life.
We’ve taken a step back for more simple days out together to the park and out on the scooters, it’s these ordinary moments that take me back to my childhood. These photos are gorgeous #TheOrdinaryMoments
Me too. That’s all we did as kids. We didn’t have money to go out days and weekends away and travel and constantly be out doing something. I remember climbing trees and riding bikes and playing outside everyday growing up. I want that for my kids as much as I love and am grateful for traveling and being able to show them more of the world. I am finding balance between the two.
What gorgeous photos – I’m fully envious of the sunshine and blue skies. We really need some fresh air in our lungs at the moment. I’m looking forward to some days out in January.
Yes we still need to get together for a playdate too sometime hunny or ladies day too! hahaha Thanks so sweet of you. I wish we had more sunshine and blue skies. It definitely helps.
Beautiful photos. I totally get this! We too have been getting a better balance of to filling the diary up with big plans all the time. To make sure we all have chance to relax and to just be. The girls want to go out on their scooters, go to the park and have time to play with their toys. Love this so much x #theordinarymoments
It’s nice to have those blank weekends as to those packed full weekends. My kids don’t need to go to every single birthday party and do something new every weekend. Nice to have balance and less stressful too.
Lucky you to have such a pretty spot on your doorstep; these are gorgeous pictures and I’m wildly impressed that you found some sunshine! I completely agree about needing weekends to be down time – a few impromptu plans along the ways perhaps, but I think we all enjoy knowing that we’ve got a lazy day coming up on Saturday 🙂
Oh yes we are so busy with kids in school now and all their extra activities we need a few blank weekends as I call them. So fun so simple and recharging those batteries as we need. Don’t get me wrong I love and am grateful to travel lots with my children but we don’t have to do it every weekend with days out and constant not at home time.
Little ones are very good at making fun out of nothing, and I know Rosalie is just as thrilled with finding a good stick and a pile of leaves on a walk as she is with any paid for day out. We don’t really do many big days out or traveling due to money, but I can imagine that it does get very tiring being away from home a lot. Enjoy your simple days with your beautiful children Jenny xxx
Oh I know what you mean, I love that kids can make anything simple fun. We have been getting so much more creative and doing things together like little projects of painting, den building, sidewalk chalk playing etc. I love traveling and so grateful to share more of the world with my two but I also love being at home with them.
It sounds like you’ve pulled back on activities, but it is all the more enriching. I think sometimes, especially these days, we think we have to be go, go, go and be making the most of every minute, but forget that often the simple things are the ones that bring the most joy (especially to little ones).
Getting outside can be hard in winter when you want to hibernate (just me?!), but as you say it is so important, even just for a little while. It sounds like you’ve found a good balance that is working well for the whole family.
Lovely photos you’ve shared – just look at the joy on your kids faces!
I agree. It’s crazy how much society puts pressure on parents or even appears that we have to be constantly doing something 24/7. We never did this much as kids when I was growing up and I had the happiest childhood ever. It’s definitely more about the simple little things for me this year for my family. I find it hard to get out but once I force myself rain or cold it is blissful. My two love outdoors and the boats on the canal had them smiling ear to ear.
It looks gorgeous Jenny. I love the top photo, like they are posing! I think it is a hard lesson to learn to get the balance of planning and just stepping back and I must admit these are the moments I treasure the most x
For me too, I love our weekend casual parks out and fresh air time. It’s really dawn on me this past year how fast it goes and sometimes it’s good to just not have any plans for us finding balance between travel and not traveling.
These are such beautiful photos Jenny and I love how MM matches your blog colours! My two are exactly the same, when it gets to the weekend they say please can we stay in and stay at home today, they would much rather be at home than doing days out and things, although they are fun too of course. Being at home and appreciating what you have around you is so good for the soul too- I am definitely a home bird at heart even though I love travelling too. x
Beautiful pics Jenny! I get so excited planning loads sometimes that I forget how exhausted school makes them and they just want to chill out or do something simple! I love how much kids love the park, how they are creatures of habit and adore routines! x #ordinarymoments
When I left my day job last November and didn’t work Saturdays anymore I had big plans to book up every weekend with adventures. But, I soon realised that actually a mix of time at home and smaller adventures works well. We’re now happy popping out for a couple of hours and then relaxing at home in our comfy clothes! I can relate to this so much x
As they get older and they spend most of the week at school/preschool i’ve noticed this about my oldest two – they need lazy time at home. I love the photos – what a beautiful day! xx #theordinarymoments
We are all about the small adventures…purely because there not much near us and we still have to work in nap times. I really enjoy the times and knowing that we are carving out a childhood xx
Lovely photos! We love getting out for mini adventures too – roll on the better weather! xx Jess xx
I’m really bad at letting the bad weather dictate how much outdoor time we get. It’s raining now but I think we might be going out soon after reading your post (wink, wink) 🙂
I am so badly I hate letting it get to me but it really does. My mom is the same. We all need light therapy I swear. I think I just need to buy a poncho and get out more no matter what.
Photos are beautiful Jenny! I know exactly what you mean, some of our most fun family times are just spent at the park, children can enjoy the simplest things xx