As we fill these holiday days with anything and everything to get us out of the renovation chaos I find myself amazed at how much the kids can pack into a day.
Me? Well I don’t seem to have as much stamina as I once did.
After a solid five hours at the zoo yesterday I was ready to go to sleep as soon as we got home, yet the kids were ready to do the next thing… and the idea of the next thing being sitting still and quiet really didn’t fly.
My bank balance doesn’t quite have the stamina for non-stop activity either.
And as I sat catatonic on the couch while the kids played wii dance I wondered….
If my wallet was a bottomless pit and I had all the time and energy in the world… what would I want to do more of with the kids?
The zoo was just lovely… and then there is the beach, or how about just pottering around in the back yard?
Maybe I would take them to exotic places. I would love to show them the ruins in Rome and they would be amazed by Venice, not to mention all the places I’ve never been that would be awesome.
Or maybe we would just spend all day creating. Maybe I would buy an endless supply of paint and paper and we could paint a huge mural together??
Ah the possibilities are endless when it is all wondering and wishful thinking. Then again… maybe it is just a matter of priorities?
What about you?
What do you wish you could do more of with your kids?
{Image by LifeSupercharger via flickr}
I wish I had more time/energy/money to explore beyond Sydney before we go home.
ohhhh… just to STOP, and play WITH them :) Too often I’m the ‘just let me get the washing on/hang it out/wash up/just a minute’ and with my girl going to Kindy next year, I really need to be savouring this time with her, the last 3 months of her early childhood! I’m working on it :)
If we had endless funds, I’d love to travel with our kids to places like India, Nepal, China, and live like locals for a while so they get another perspective! maybe one day (or after our big lotto win tonight ?!?! :)
Lauren
I agree, TRAVEL!! Bottomless wallet and energy would mean traveling for us. Big planes and overseas along with packing the car and camping. We just can’t afford to do either of these at the moment so they would definately be part of my daydream.
The other “THINGS” would probably be there too, but I’m big on “DOING” rather than “HAVING”.
Hmm the travelling, if they are younger I wouldn’t bother with it…I have way to many friends who had parents that took them travelling all round the world when they were little and they only have vague recollections of what it was all about….their parents thought they were giving them an experience of a life time and it doesn’t really seem to have been that way. Playing with the kids, getting out there and joining in doing things with them, going fishing, hiking, playing games….zoo, science places, museums, taking them to big football matches….just normal everyday things that you join in with them and do…they are what is important and what will be remembered and treasured
If I had a bottomless wallet I would hire a cleaner and cook, that way I wouldn’t have to stop playing to get the chores done. Of course travel would be a high priority…. and it would be great to take friends with us too.
Hi, I completely agree with ali. I would hire a cleaner & cook for the same reasons. As regards travel, it’s totally possible. We rent & live a pretty simple life & that’s allowed us to travel with our children. We’ve spent a month in thailand, 9 months travelling the east coast of australia, 2 months living in inner city melbourne, & are heading away again next year to spend a year in costa rica. The rest of the time we live on the sunny coast. My husband does not have a high paying job- we’ve just learnt to let go of our “stuff” & jobs & whatever & when we’ve returned we’ve always found a new place to live & my husbands always found new work… We feel free compared to alot of our friends who worry about what they’re “giving up” without realising what they will gain.
I don’t agree that kids don’t get much out of travel. Our tribe (6years, 3years & 8 mths) have had a ball when we’ve been away, it’s brought us closer together because we only have each other to rely on & it’s shaped who they are. Kids live in the moment so the more interesting places & cultures they are exposed to the deeper & more diverse their well of personal experiences will be. I’m not concerned if they can tell a great story about it afterward, I’m interested in the enriching & shaping it does at the time.
I hope every family would find the opportunity to do it!!!
Mine are 19 and nearly 17. I often feel sad that I can’t go back and just be with them. Hang out, let them cook and make a mess, watch a movie. Now we treasure each time they are home:) I love to eat together at the table, we try to coax them from their rooms to watch a movie and occasionally just chillin with a cuppa or a drink just chatting is awesome:)