Before your child reaches adulthood, you’ll likely have spent around 936 weekends together. Now, let’s subtract the first couple of years when babies are basically blobs that eat, sleep, and cry. Toss in about 30 weekends lost to illnesses and another 200 when your teens are mysteriously absent, and you’re left with fewer than 400 weekends to actually enjoy with your kids.
But I’m not here to guilt-trip you—let’s focus on how to change the status quo. Are your weekends spent rejuvenating your spirits, or are they jam-packed with activities that leave you feeling completely drained? If it’s the latter, it’s time for a change!
I had my epiphany when I heard about a Little League coach scheduling a practice for 6-year-olds at 8 a.m. on a Sunday. Seriously? This is a slap in the face to families who cherish those lazy Sunday mornings when Dad makes his famous pancakes, or to the parents who work shifts and finally get a chance to catch up on some much-needed rest.
So, we made the conscious decision to avoid weekend extracurricular activities whenever possible. Sure, this meant we had to get creative, but we prioritized keeping our weekends free from the chaos that often defines weekdays. Carpooling, grabbing quick meals, and squeezing in homework are hectic enough without adding more to our weekends.
Now, if your family thrives on weekend sports tournaments and early morning drives, more power to you! I admire your commitment. But the thought of those endless, exhausting weekends makes my wallet—and my brain—hurt just thinking about it. Watching friends post about their 12-hour days spent in bleachers on social media? Exhausting!
We do indulge in a few weekend adventures throughout the year, but we limit ourselves to about ten. And when we do have to attend an event, I can’t help but feel a twinge of sadness that we’re sacrificing our precious family time.
As my kids grow, I’ve found that the best weekends are the lazy ones at home—hanging around the neighborhood, biking, or just enjoying the sweet boredom of childhood. I’d give anything to have my kids lazily sprawled on the couch again, just like old times.
If your weekends are overloaded and stressing everyone out, don’t feel guilty about simplifying. Gradually cut back on unnecessary commitments and redefine what a fun weekend looks like. Bored kids will learn to entertain themselves, and from my own childhood memories, I can tell you that was the best kind of fun.
So, learn to say “no”—to adults and kids alike. Take back your family weekends; you’ll be thankful you did, and your kids will be too—most of the time.
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Summary:
Parents, it’s time to reclaim your weekends from the chaos of overscheduling. Prioritize quality time together, learn to say no to unnecessary commitments, and embrace the beauty of lazy, unstructured weekends. You’ll cherish these moments with your children more than you realize as they grow older.