Before your child reaches adulthood, you will have experienced roughly 936 weekends together. Now, take away the first two to four years of their life, during which they primarily spend their weekends sleeping, eating, and crying. Factor in about 30 weekends lost to illness and another 200 during their teenage years when they are hardly around. This calculation leaves you with less than 400 weekends to truly bond with your kids.
I’m not trying to induce guilt, but I ask you: Are these weekends spent recharging your family’s spirits or engaging in quality time together? Chances are, the answer is a resounding “no.” It’s time to shift that response to a “yes,” and it all starts with reclaiming your weekends.
Years ago, I had an eye-opening experience when a local sports coach scheduled a two-hour practice for six-year-olds on a Sunday morning at 8 a.m. This decision was inconsiderate to families attending church or to those who cherish their rare weekend moments together. Consider the two-working-parent families who rely on lazy Sunday mornings to reconnect, or the exhausted parents who need those mornings to catch up on sleep.
That realization led us to prioritize our weekends. We decided that extracurricular activities on Saturdays and Sundays simply weren’t right for our family. While we had to be flexible, we focused on sports and interests that occurred during the week. Our weekdays are hectic enough, filled with car rides, hurried meals, and homework crammed into the backseat. We’ve had our fill of mandatory commitments, carpool chaos, and the exhaustion of late-night dinners. So why carry that stress into the weekend?
If your family has found a way to make weekend activities enjoyable, that’s great. But if you’re juggling endless commitments, don’t hesitate to scale back. A weekend doesn’t have to be packed with activities to be enjoyable. Kids left to their own devices often discover the most creative forms of entertainment, something I remember fondly from my own childhood.
Master the art of saying “no”—to both adults and your children. Reclaim your family’s weekends; you’ll be grateful you did. Your children will appreciate it too—most of the time.
For more insights on family dynamics and parenting, check out this related blog post. If you’re interested in home insemination, Make A Mom provides excellent resources. Additionally, Parents.com offers valuable information on what to expect during your first insemination process.
In summary, prioritize your family weekends, allowing for downtime and relaxation. By saying no to overcommitment, you can create meaningful moments that foster connection and joy.