Parents Just Want to Have Fun!

I saw a great speaker last year that shared lots of useful parenting advice and research on raising children. She interviewed well-adjusted, confident teens to learn how their ideas and beliefs influenced them to be the wonderful individuals they are today. They shared lots of things but one of my big take-a-ways was that the children said they loved when their parents had fun (and with them)! She also found in general that all children want to have more fun with their family.

I believe this to be true, but often catch myself being caught up with “too many things to do” or “we will do it later after I just get this one thing done”. I made it a goal last year that we were going to start saying YES to more things and have some more fun as a family. I now try to have at least one scheduled fun family outing a month and then all those little spontaneous fun moments like dance parties (we love these), Shamrock shakes for no reason, jumping on the trampoline, family movie and sundae nights, breakfast for dinner, going to the YMCA together just for fun, watching tv in bed with me, quoting Juan Pablo from The Bachelor (“Iss ok!”). So, you get the idea, I think. It makes a big difference having even more fun with your kids. I joke with my son that I’m gonna start twerking real soon. Now that gets a few eye rolls and some laughs. There’s lots of teasing like that.

I’ve learned that if we don’t schedule some of the bigger events, they just do not happen. So this year we went to the aquarium, skiing, ice-skating, Disney and lots of other fun things. I know there are always hardships (mine is doing things with my Ellie, as she complicates everything) but we all have limitations that we can get over. If it is financial, fun costs nothing. If it is time, even 5 minutes of dancing with your kids will be something they will remember. If it’s logistics, try to figure it out. I truly believe that once you state your intention, just do it and know you will be creating memories of a lifetime.

I will be sharing lots of nuggets that I learned from this parenting expert but this was one that I thought was easy. And we all want to have more FUN in our life, right? Who has some ideas to bring more fun into our families? Parents just wanna have funnnn… Sing it!