Do you remember riding bikes on Saturdays and reading the paper on lazy Sunday mornings? A typical weekend might have included grabbing a bite to eat with friends at a local bistro, taking in a movie, or going out for brunch. Or perhaps, you simply slept in. Ah, glorious uninterrupted sleep. Where did those days go?
All of a sudden, your weekends are dictated by ballet, soccer, and birthday parties. Your old system for managing life doesn’t work either. There’s now a crushing need for a huge calendar on your kitchen wall showing entries organized by color so your partner can easily see what’s happening without having to ask you.
And speaking of your partner – who is he again? Oh yes, he’s the one you’ll meet at the soccer game later to switch children before heading off to another set of activities. The two of you are engaged in the topsy-turvy relay race of parenthood – sprinting to the finish line just in time to kiss each other goodnight.
And I know why you keep doing it, over and over again. Much of it is fun! Hanging out with your children, watching them succeed at a sport, taking pride in their achievements, and enjoying the community of parents that share all of it with you. But how much is too much?
Perhaps there’s a way to keep your children happy and engaged without feeling your dream of a restful weekend is simply a fairytale. Here are five tips to create a more restful weekend.
1. Get used to politely saying “NO.” When you commit to an activity, make sure it’s something you’ll truly enjoy. Don’t give up a Saturday night to attend a party you don’t care about. A Saturday night is precious real estate on your schedule.
2. When committing to an activity, take a look at your entire weekend. If you volunteer to chaperone the middle school dance on Saturday night, you probably won’t want to have friends over for Sunday brunch the next day. Rather than make brunch, you might want to soak your feet. Make sure you give yourself the space you need for recovery and self-care.
3. Limit your children’s activities. Can your little ballerina take two classes instead of three? Does she need to play softball, tennis, and soccer? What does she most love to do? This is your chance to help her make smart choices so she can have relaxing weekends when she grows up.
4. Schedule at least one family day per month. Plan a fun activity together ahead of time or sleep in and create your day together at the breakfast table. Enjoy the freedom to be spontaneous.
5. Remember to schedule time for the unexpected – a last minute hairstyle for crazy hair day at school; a trip across town to get the right dance shoes; a birthday present for the birthday party you were never told about. It’s going to happen. Why not work it into the schedule before it throws your entire afternoon into a tailspin?
Take these necessary steps to change your family’s schedule. It may take a couple of months to see the impact of these changes, but stick with it and you’ll make time to rest and recharge.
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Ugghh, why did I just find this on a Monday?!? :((