Before your child reaches adulthood, you will have experienced roughly 936 weekends together. If you subtract the first few years—when weekends are often consumed by sleeping, feeding, and diaper changes—plus around 30 weekends lost to illness, and another 200 during the teenage years when your kids seem to vanish, you’re left with fewer than 400 weekends to truly enjoy as a family.
Now, I’m not here to make you feel guilty, so let’s move on. Are you spending those weekends rejuvenating your spirits, unwinding, or participating in meaningful family activities? If your answer leans more toward an exhausted “no,” it’s time to make a change.
I had a revelation when a local coach scheduled a two-hour practice for 6-year-olds on a Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Seriously? This timing disregards families who have church commitments or those parents who cherish a rare chance to relax on a lazy weekend morning. What about the parents who work multiple shifts and rely on weekends for rest?
That moment made it clear: extracurricular activities on Saturdays and Sundays simply didn’t fit our family’s needs. Admittedly, this meant we had to be flexible, but we prioritized finding sports and activities that took place during the weekdays. Our weeknights are chaotic enough, filled with driving, quick meals, and juggling homework while racing down the highway. We had enough of mandatory commitments and the stress of carpooling. So why perpetuate that chaos from Friday night to Sunday?
If your family thrives on weekend activities, that’s fantastic. I truly admire your dedication if you’re part of a travel sports team, waking up at 6 a.m. to drive hours for a game, and spending significant money on hotels and meals. But for us, the thought of such intense weekend plans is exhausting—just following those families on social media makes me want to take a nap!
Yes, we do attend sporting events and exciting outings, but we limit those to about ten weekends a year. Special circumstances sometimes arise where we have to sacrifice family time for a weekend event, which always leaves me feeling a bit melancholic.
As my children have grown more independent, we’ve discovered that our best weekends are those spent at home—where they can hang out with friends, ride bikes, take naps, and yes, even get bored. Those moments of togetherness are what I cherish most. Reflecting on how quickly time flies (my oldest is now in college), I would give anything to have my kids lounging on the couch, bored together this Saturday afternoon.
If your weekends feel overly scheduled and stressful, don’t hesitate to cut back. Gradually remove unnecessary obligations and adjust your perspective on what makes a weekend enjoyable. Fun doesn’t have to mean constant activity. Sometimes, boredom can spark creativity, leading to the best kind of fun.
Finally, master the art of saying “no” to commitments, whether they come from other adults or your own children. Take back your family weekends—you’ll find it’s worth it. Your kids will likely appreciate it too—most of the time.
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Summary
Parents should prioritize family weekends by minimizing extracurricular activities and focusing on quality time together. Limiting weekend commitments allows for relaxation and meaningful interactions, ultimately leading to cherished memories.