By: Pam Parish

Long work hours. Busy schedules. The television. The computer. Laundry. Dirty Dishes. Bills. Groceries. I could go on and on but I think you get my point. When, exactly, did we lose our free time? Our time for leisure, and fun? I’m not sure exactly, but I know we have, and it’s to our own detriment - and that of our kids. Don’t you think it’s time we took back our leisure time? I do.

We need to reclaim fun in our families. And I don’t mean Susie’s cheerleading competition or Joey’s soccer practice. I mean fun, together, as a family. Laughter, goofy jokes, silly games and rambunctiousness that you share as a family. There are many ways you can have fun… playing in the yard, playing a board game, riding bikes, going to a local park, going camping, playing miniature golf or real golf for that matter. It’s simply about spending time together interacting with one another.

There are many reasons to schedule fun time as a family, here are just a few:

It Creates Memories

I bet if you remember back to your own childhood, some of your most vivid memories are of times you spent with your family having fun. I know that’s true for me. I am the oldest of three kids, with two younger brothers (talk about date night torment!), but I remember growing up and having lots of fun together riding bikes, playing “Kiss” (the rock band…makeup and all) on the picnic table, building club houses in the woods and riding go carts. Well, I only did the last one once. My brothers had gotten a new go cart and I begged and begged my dad to let me drive it, finally, he relented and showed me how to steer, brake and use the gas. I couldn’t wait to take off around the house. You see, my objective was to ride it around the house once and then back to my dad in front of the garage. It was a simple enough objective with a pretty clear path and no major obstacles in the way; with the minor exception of one large pine tree about 8 feet in diameter in the center of our side yard, on the opposite side of the house. But, really that shouldn’t be a problem because there’s at least 500 feet of clear yard on either side of it to go around it. I’m sure I don’t have to tell the rest of the story, and if you’re ever at our family Christmas gathering you can hear it yourself - my dad LOVES to recount this one. Of course, I hit the ONLY tree in the entire yard going full blast on the go cart. It took my dad weeks to fix it. Nope, I never rode the go cart again. I’m still not actually too fond of them.

Here’s the thing though, it’s a lasting memory that now we share laughter over and remember as good times together as a family. We have lots of these types of stories to tell and you should too.

It Lets Your Kids See You in a Different Light

It’s funny, but it never ceases to amaze me when my kids react in shock if their dad or I break out into a hip song, funky dance or tell a funny joke. What do they think we are? Old codgers who can’t have any fun? Straight and narrow rule makers who can’t crack a smile? Funny, but, yes, sometimes our kids can see us that way. Why? Because we are. We get so caught up in the “doing” of life - bills, work, homework, bedtimes, chores - that we inadvertently become the eternal enforcers of rules and forget to just be human and have fun. I’m certainly guilty as charged, too.

It’s extremely important that your kids see you in a different light sometimes. It makes it easier for them to relate to you and to trust you. It’s hard to talk to someone who is always on a completely different level than you are. Think about it. Have you ever had a manager or boss that it was difficult to talk to, aside from business conversation? Someone that was on such a different level than you that you found it very hard to relate? I know I have - and, that isn’t the person that I would choose to go to if I were struggling and needed some advice. I’d seek out someone that I could relate to. We want our kids to find that they can relate to us - that they can come to us and we’ll understand. This type of relationship with your kids doesn’t happen just because you say it should. It happens because you invest time in showing them that you are more than just the rule maker. Go ahead. Have some fun.

It’s Fun!!!