HOW TO ENJOY PARENTING, WITHOUT KICKING THE KIDS OUT!

Being a parent is hard work! It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. It’s also normal for parents to have trouble finding time for themselves. This can lead to resentment and other feelings that aren’t good for the whole family unit. So, how do you balance parenting with enjoying life as a parent? In this article, we'll go over some tips and tricks on how you can find time for yourself while still connecting with your family—without kicking them out!

Family time is important!

Family time is important! I know it sounds cliché, but there’s a reason why parents say it so often. It’s because they want to remind themselves of the importance of spending quality time together with their kids—and believing that it’s worth doing. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by your parenting responsibilities, it may be hard for you to see how spending time together will help things improve. But trust me: it does!

 

Organize a family activity

When you're dealing with a lot of kids, it can be hard to find time for yourself and your partner. That's why it's important to schedule some "me time." A family activity is a great way to do this.

  • Go hiking
  • Ride bikes
  • Swim at the local pool or lake
  • Go see an exhibit at a museum or art gallery (and maybe get ice cream afterwards!)

You could also take your kids somewhere new that they've never been before: A concert hall, festival or zoo are all good options.

 

Go for a road trip.

You can enjoy a road trip if you plan it right. Make sure to get a map, plan the route and make sure to pack snacks and water for everyone. Also, make sure that you have charged your phone so that you can use GPS as well as play music on Spotify or whatever other music service you prefer. The last thing you want is for the kids to be bored because they ran out of things to do while they’re driving!

If there are any scenic views along the way, take some time out of driving to look at them in person rather than on Google Maps or your phone screen—it will make it seem more special. You might even stop at a small park or historical site if there happens to be one nearby (and if it's safe enough).

 

Have some fun in the sun!

  • Get out of the house:

A few days ago a friend told me that she and her husband were having trouble enjoying each other because they never had time to go anywhere together. Too much time with the kids, too much to do around the house, etc., etc. So I suggested that next time they wanted to get away from it all, they should just get on their bikes and ride off into the sunset—even if it was just for an hour or two. And it worked! They're now planning weekend trips with their bikes as a family bonding activity (which is awesome).

  • Take a walk:

It doesn't have to be an epic hike in Yosemite; just going for a walk around your neighbourhood can be refreshing after spending so much time indoors with little ones who are prone to make messes everywhere they go (and everywhere you look!). Even if you don't have access to open green space nearby—or even if your neighbourhood isn't particularly pedestrian-friendly—you can still take advantage of this simple pleasure by walking through a shopping mall or local park on Saturday mornings when no one else is around (and getting some fresh air right before lunchtime).

 

Have a strict sleep routine

This can be a tough one, especially if you're at the mercy of your child's sleep schedule. But that's no reason to give up on having a strict sleep routine. It will help everyone get more rest and create more structure—both things kids need as much as adults do.

You don't have to follow paediatrician Dr Harvey Karp's strict two-hour-a-night window for newborns (more on this later), but setting some rules about bedtimes and naps is still important for establishing healthy habits in your child's life. For example: Do they need a morning nap? If so, when should it end? What time are they allowed to stay up past dark? These established guidelines will make both you and your kid feel more secure—and we all know how important that feeling of security is during adolescence!

The key here is consistency; if you tell your daughter she can't watch television after 7 PM one night and then let her watch TV another night at 8 PM because "you just felt like doing something different", then she'll never know what the rules are supposed to be! Basically, it boils down to making sure everything stays within those parameters we talked about earlier: regularity, routine​--whatever works best for everyone involved (and doesn't drive anyone crazy).

 

It’s important to find ways to relax as a parent.

As a parent, you are bound to experience the high stress of juggling multiple responsibilities and keeping the household running smoothly. It is important to find ways to relax as a parent so that you can continue taking care of your family without burning out.

Here are some examples of ways in which parents can relax:

  • Find a hobby or activity that you enjoy doing for yourself. This could include anything from reading books to listening to music or playing video games!
  • Take time for yourself when needed – even if it’s only 10 minutes here and there throughout the day, it will make all the difference!
  • Get enough sleep each night so that you have energy throughout the day (for both work and parenting duties). Try setting an alarm if necessary!

 

If you need it, get support.

If you need it, get support. If your family or friends are not supportive and understanding, find someone who is. There are many support groups for parents in different settings, as well as therapists who specialize in helping parents with their parenting issues.

If you feel like kicking the kids out of the house, don't hesitate to seek help from a therapist or counsellor—it could save your relationship with your kids down the road!

As a parent, you need to find ways to relax. That’s why we created this list of ideas for family activities, road trips and getting some sleep. We hope that it helps you have a better time with your kids! Need support for parenting? Let’s have a chat!