Cutting Back For A Simpler Life
Smart Healthy Women Magazine|Issue 52

When a good friend came to stay for the weekend recently, my husband and I decided to cancel all the children’s extra-curricular activities during her visit. It’s not very often we’re together and didn’t want to be driving around like our regular weekend Uber for Kids service.

Nadine McGrath
Cutting Back For A Simpler Life

When a good friend came to stay for the weekend recently, my husband and I decided to cancel all the children’s extra-curricular activities during her visit. It’s not very often we’re together and didn’t want to be driving around like our regular weekend Uber for Kids service.

So, with our eldest son away at camp (which automatically reduced our load), we cut out our other two children’s activities for the weekend.

Our friend had spent the past couple of days working and socialising with colleagues so didn’t want to rush around seeing local tourism sites. As a mother herself she was thrilled to relax at home with us and chat before boarding a plane back to the routine of juggling work and family.

An extended breakfast turned into a long lunch with no rush to head out anywhere.

The kids happily played and occupied themselves while I came to a conclusion my husband had reached a long time before - our life is too hectic and we need to cut back on activities for more downtime.

Most mornings and afternoons on weekdays we have an activity for at least one or two children, while the weekend schedule is jam-packed.

But there are much busier families than ours. I’ve got friends who are leaving home at 5.30 in the morning and not getting back until 7.30 in the evening trying to fit various activities into their children’s routines. But in the process, combined with homework and our own working lives, are we just running our children and ourselves to exhaustion?

Come Friday evening, after a busy week of school and activities, as a family we’re all tired. But when we have lots to do on the weekend, are we giving ourselves the necessary rest to start another week afresh?

In the modern world what happened to Sunday being a rest day?

Is there anything wrong with just wanting a weekend afternoon nap instead of going to that sporting game?

This story is from the Issue 52 edition of Smart Healthy Women Magazine.

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This story is from the Issue 52 edition of Smart Healthy Women Magazine.

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