Have Fun! Part 4

(Need a little context? You might want to start back at the beginning: Part 1.)

Adding the Fun

Turns out my forte seems to be in the daily. Here are some examples of family fun that have worked for us, based on our particular needs/interests...

Mornings Before School used to be primarily bickering and rushing. I stayed in bed as late as possible and let the boys get their own breakfast (= cereal which left them hungry an hour later,  frozen waffles lathered with Nutella, or frozen breakfast sandwiches on repeat #sohealthy). I wonder why there was so much bickering?? 😑 This year, it finally struck me that it was my last year they'd all be getting up at a reasonable hour (7am) and maybe if I were more involved, we could turn the ship around. Now I get up by 7am, turn on music, light a candle, start the coffee, make parts or all of a decent breakfast for them, and read a 1-min daily devotional before they catch the bus at 7:45am. I cannot believe the difference, and neither can they. They still thank me for doing it, and this is MARCH. Am I spoiling them? Maybe, but I'm also teaching them how to transform something you have to do into something you can enjoy and what a variety of healthy breakfasts look like. And bonus, I'm not waking up to 40 minutes of argument.

Afternoon Tea. When Josh and I brought home pictures of tea in London, the boys wanted to go. So we started having afternoon tea here at home. We probably do it 2/month as their after-school snack, or on a hump day before school. We use real china, decaf earl grey with a pitcher of milk and sugar cubes, and whatever goodies we can scrounge up from the pantry. Who would've guessed this would be such a hit with my sports- and army-loving boys? 💓

Family Dinner. This gets a lot of press, so I won't belabor it, except to say that it has taken more creativity than I expected. Sitting around the table every night with kids 10, 8, 5, and 1 is not automatically fun. We eat late so Daddy can join us maybe half the time. We use conversation cards when we need a boost. And sometimes I just pull out whatever novel we're reading aloud when I've finished eating (currently The Silver Chair).

Day Out with Daddy. Before school starts each year, Josh takes each boy out for a half day of whatever he wants to do (usually a bounce house and Dunkin Donuts). We've also worked this idea into Christmas: each gets tickets to an event with Josh (local sports, music, or theater). They also get a weekend away with Josh when they turn 12 to talk about... well, you know...

Hobbies with Mommy. What they are evolves as my kids develop, but I'm trying to make sure I share an interest with each of my kids that I don't share with the other kids. Some examples right now: my 11yr-old and I follow John Crist together, my 9yr-old likes to bake with me, my 6yr-old is the only one who wants to help me with crosswords, and my 2yrold is princess-crazy. My kids are moving targets, but I always want them to feel like they share a special interest with me -- usually one they've found and I've jumped on board.

Brit Fantasy Nights. I'm a Brit fantasy junkie, so this is a no-brainer. We read books aloud together all the time (everything from Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and Paddington to The Hobbit and Harry Potter), but on these nights, we eat food from the books (often "pub food"), dress up like the characters (I have a go-to McGonagall cloak, as one does), and drink soda with whipped cream from beer steins. #itsathing

FMN (Family Movie Night). About 1/week we sit at the FMN table (a console table behind the couch that faces the TV we bought specifically for this purpose), eat pizza, and watch a movie together. #easypeasy Another edition of this is #gamenight involving Disney Apples to Apples, Scene It, or Heads Up ("Disney" so the littles can participate).

Saturday Brunch. We like eating out one meal as a family each weekend. This began when the kids were all nappers, so we'd go out to eat in the morning when their attitudes were still sunny. We've found Saturday brunch has the advantages of being 1) cheaper, 2) no reservations needed, 3) usually family-oriented, 4) kid-friendly food, and 5) it doesn't mess with bedtime. We run the gamut from Donut Den to Homestead Manor, but we almost always manage to incorporate chocolate in the meal somehow.

Hm...They all seem to involve stories and food... 🎯 #litmajor #foodlover

Think Big

Josh, on the other hand, seems especially good at recognizing big investments that will foster family fun. Each of the following has been his idea, gradually adopted by me, and ultimately a wild success with our family. They've all required a significant investment on our part, but I've been realizing that the return in fun, time together, memories, communication, etc. really is priceless.

The Hot Tub: I would never in a million years have guessed we'd be hot tub people. Josh has always been a fan, and would sort our hotel options for trips based on who had a hot tub. Sometimes we'd start in the big pool, but more often than not, everyone wanted to skip the big pool for the hot tub. Still, I wasn't sure about buying one. I could think of several families who had them, but none who used them. Then his 40th birthday came along, and I knew it would be the perfect surprise. It was, but turns out, it has surprised me too. We use it weekly. It's a place we can all talk and play with no distractions. No electronics, no chores, just us outside in the comfy water. We like it rain or shine, night and day, hot or cold. Sometimes Josh grills and we eat down there. Sometimes Josh and I go down there to talk through life after the kids are in bed.

Disney Vacations: I've mentioned before that Josh gradually converted me to enjoying Walt Disney World. It all started because he still shares a love for it with his parents. Now we're all in, and I see the fruit. We're gradually exploring the parks, resorts, and shops, learning the ins and outs, returning to our favorite things, and swapping stories about past visits. We revisit Disney stories before each trip. My Mickey hat sparks joy year-round. And each of my kids asks regularly when we can go back. Some people go to 30A each year. Others take a ski vacation. Others visit a lake house. Many do none of the above. We do this, and I'm grateful we can.

Community Pool: When we moved into our current subdivision, one of the things we missed most was a neighborhood pool -- a place we could go often nearby and see people we knew. We tried out various options these last 2 years and finally settled on joining one 5min from our house. This will be our first summer to try it out, but I'm already anticipating the payback in summer sunsets and worn-out kids. 

Seems all of these involve some kind of pool? Clearly we think in particular veins. What are YOUR favorite family fun traditions? discoveries? What helps you be deliberate about making time for family fun?