“Building some breaks into the grind, finding and making vacation time”
Vacations are critical. When school is out, the sense of freedom, and the almost irresistible desire to just relax, and do nothing, can be overwhelming. Really good weather adds a special zest to the time. Days without structure and responsibility – at least for children and those who can take modest or extended time away from the mundane, can take on almost ethereal or magical quality.
Summer is waning but not vacation
The “summer” months are beginning to wind down and some of the world begins to transition away from “holiday” and vacation times, back to the day-to-day of school, work and other activities. Here in the Village of Peace, Dimona, families are rushing to get in that last special trip or activity before the children go back to school.
According to Talyah Acker, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), and a mom,
“vacations may be seen as a luxury or an indulgence but make no mistake, they are crucial for our mental health. Even if it is a ‘staycation,’ there is a mental shift that takes place that we all need to recharge our physical and emotional batteries.”
Structured activities like camps and other trips, can have a positive impact on children and their adult caretakers or guardians. And, while it can be stressful during the summer months for many parents and adult guardians, to juggle trying to figure out something useful, meaningful (and not too costly) for the family to do so that their charges aren’t just home alone, transitioning back into the school year and the lack of time available for bonding activities, can be just as challenging.
Special times can have special benefits
Special times are extremely important though, regardless of the time of year. Whether it’s a trip away or even locally, a new activity or visits from relatives or friends that are outside of the normal routine can, when collectively shared, create powerful bonds and memories.
In fact, collective bonding activities, positive or negative can reinforce a collective identity among family members, helping establish new, positive skill sets or reinforcing already existing ones. Just as critically, breaks in routine that offer the chance to focus on joy, discovery or just plain ole silliness and fun, are as important for young minds as they are for mature ones.
It’s always good to share
Sharing the discovery of something new, rediscovering something that the family members already have experienced but are revisiting at a new time or “season” helps to develop and cement a collective “language” and culture that is unique to that family. Even the normal, mundane can still take on a “newness” as each of the family members grow and mature during their interactions with the outside world, bringing those new experiences back into the family fold.
“New experiences provide an opportunity to receive and offer support and build trust with one another. We crave new experiences, and being able to share them with loved ones that we feel safe with is the best of both worlds. Keeping these elements in mind as we return to the normal grind of life, will yield the best results for our families,” Acker added.
It’s definitely a lot easier to plan and squeeze-in things to break the grind, when there is no grind, but juggling it all during the school year can demand another kind of dexterity, for sure.
The need is real though, explained Ms. Acker,
“In our society date nights have become a norm for maintaining healthy romantic bonds. As we return to work and school our busy lives force us to be just as intentional with the whole family. It is very easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of working and caretaking for our children and not be fully present for the relationship.”
Tips you can use to beat the grind
So, what can we do, as parents, caretakers or guardians, to keep our charges and ourselves, refreshed and focused now that we are back in the mix? Ms. Acker offered the following tips:
- Take turns planning novel activities for the whole family weekly or monthly.
- Visit local places of interest and fill a memory bag to which each person contributes.
- Play up the team element and try wearing matching T-shirts and challenging another family to a fun tournament once a month.
- Rotate chores by drawing names, when we work together, set a timer and turn on some music to make it fun.
- Take turns choosing and preparing dinner with an eye on exploring new regions or ingredients.
- Remember we are not just caring for our children, we are training them to replace us, be intentional about teaching them what you know, and try learning something new together like origami, another language, doing craft projects.
- Take turns (if possible) story telling – your kids need to know your history as it helps to shape their future.
- Working out together sets a great example and makes hard things fun.
- Share musical favorites, old school and new school, and have a dance off.
- Create a family bucket list of experiences and take turns pulling and planning adventures.
Most importantly, she adds,
“Don’t forget to celebrate wherever you can and focus on the good. Gratitude is key. When our families center their focus on what we have to be grateful for, and appreciate one another, we take one step closer to making our daily lives a pleasure where vacations are just another day in paradise.” (1)
Here in the Village of Peace, we understand that as we transition from vacation time into the busy school schedule, in order to Master the Art of Living, we have to keep body, soul, spirt, mind, and heart fresh with, positivity, newness and healthy challenges.
Share some of your ideas for family bonding and fun In the comments below.
By Sgan Yahgdeer, Talyah Acker, LCPC and George Felton, Life Coach (MCLC)
Bowling, Laser Tag are family favourites