What are you doing this weekend?
Simple enough question, but as a parent, the pressure is on.
Is there a sport/music/drama practice?
Are there any school events?
What chores do I have to get to?
Should we get the kids out somewhere new?
It's that last item that constantly preoccupies me.
Where should I take my kids this weekend?
Regularly fitting in day-trips to our weekend schedule is a passion of mine, and probably should be one you consider too. The one thing I can give my daughters that will remain with them for life is memories of experiences that helped them grow.
Think of any physical item you may have given your child over the past year. It could be anything; a book, a video game, clothing, shoes, a new toy. What have you given them that will remain for the rest of their lives?
What legacy do you plan on leaving your kids?
For me, it's the experiences we create every weekend when we are out adventuring somewhere. The experience we get from traveling together, taking part in an experience, building a closer bond through that shared experience, creating a lasting memory is the legacy I will leave my kids.
Recently I was reading an article on Parents that talked about how kids that spend more time outside playing have a lower chance of developing psychological issues as adults. This lead to another article referencing a study done in Norway tracking 800 kids aged six to eight who showed fewer signs of depression if they engaged in regular (moderate to vigorous) physical activity.
During the week, it can be difficult to include regular physical activity. When my kids were younger, I had this great routine of taking them out for a walk every night after dinner, regardless of the weather. This was a terrific bedtime ritual as it would give time to digest, a good chance for some fresh air, and tire them out a little before going to sleep. We could talk about what we saw along the way, and I could hear about their day at school.
Does recovery mean rest?
Weekends are often seen as a time to rest and recover, but there is a lot of time on a weekend to do that. Resting is great, but it doesn’t have to be all day. Recovery doesn’t necessarily mean rest. How many of us spend our day’s behind a desk, and how about your kids? Recovery can also mean experiencing something new.
By embracing what's around us, meeting new people, trying new activities, learning about local history, and physically challenging ourselves, we grow into better citizens more in touch with the world. We become less afraid to try something new, embracing opportunities as they present themselves.
Not only do my kids grow and become more bonded with each other through these shared experiences, but I grow with them too. Our regular outings allow me to connect more with them as they mature.
When you get back to your regular week and talk about your weekend, do you talk about what great rest you had? Or would you rather talk about the great adventure you had?
These adventures create a common language, both spoken and unspoken, we can base new experiences on. Recognizing when to take a break before squabbles occur, knowing when I can push the kids a little harder on a hike to reach the summit by comparing it to another hike, realizing someone is hungry and not simply being mean; these all developed through our adventures. We now have better tools and comparisons to make our current and future outings better through our previous adventures.
We probably can't ignore our responsibilities, school obligations, club meetings, and chores. But we can strive to make time to create better memories.
Think of adventuring as a practice, like yoga. The more you do it, the better you get.
If we commit to taking the time and looking for opportunities for adventure, we can create a legacy for our children. A legacy that they will value long after we are gone. And if we are lucky, one they will pass down for generations to come.
Maybe we need to re-phrase the question?
What memories you are making this weekend?
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