THE MOST FUN FAMILY VACATION ALTERNATIVES|STAYCATION AND MORE

Lately i have had the need to travel a lot with our children even if it is locally. Often we postpone our own pleasure and the children’s pleasure to a later date.

” we will go visit another country when we have more money”

We wait to save sometimes yet we have to fulfil a certain pursuit in finding and creating moments that give us so much pleasure while we save.The pleasure creates more moments of pleasure in our experiences and we expose ourselves and our children to new experiences that make us limitless.

So please continue saving for the major holiday however do not deprive yourself of sight seeing and just being a tourist in your own country.

See how other people live in other towns, take a drive to another city or the country and find pleasure in nature and enjoy the views around. Some of these pleasures do not need to be actually paid for.

There was a time we lived on one salary with my family so we could save up and nurture our Air Conditioning Company. We did a lot of

Picnics
Walks
Camping
Hiking

I know you and i see others having fun and creating lovely memories and experiences for themselves. You can do it too together with your children and it does not have to be expensive all the time!

These are fun things you could absolutely do together with your children.

What i realised is that i consistently insisted on how tired i was on weekends and it was really genuine but there was a lot i did not realise.

I started lacking passion, i stopped pursuing interests and pleasures that make one look forward to the next day. It has taught me that we do not have to deprive ourselves and our children too but look for experiences together with our children that bring us to a state of peace, joy and fulfilment.

Have you longed for a family holiday but because of circumstances beyond you at the moment it has not been possible?

Do this instead for now!

BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY!

We took a road trip yesterday about 3 hours drive from our house and i must say it was refreshing. We had a place in mind for some time and yesterday we decided to give ourselves a long drive to entertain our children and ourselves too.

It feels like touring your own country because on the way you see places you do not usually see or place you are seeing for the first time. We wanted both the road trip and to tour this place our children had not seen.

Some part of the journey may include seeing the country side and its refreshing when you live inside town to experience something new.

So decide on a place that interests you that is absolutely child friendly and take a tour to that place. It may be the museum, the airport, a game reserve or any local tourist attraction place that you never get to experience yourself.

Momtip: most times we complain about finances which is quite a valid reason however you could redirect your cash to a family experience. For example, one can skip a month of manicure and pedicure. Redirect those funds for outings and maybe top up a bit.

TAKE A ROAD TRIP!

Road trips are fun and children just get excited knowing they are doing something fun with their parents.

Pack up some water, some snacks and maybe some lunch too if you will not be stopping to buy a meal somewhere. This will also minimise costs on the road trip when you save up on buying each and every meal on the ways.

What i know about road trips is you are often stuck in the car with each other and conversations are bound to take place in the car. This allows you that family bonding you often desire.

Even if gadgets are there but if your children are not used to staying with gadgets all the time this will not be a problem.

“Children talk a lot when they are excited and you learn new things and interests about your children you did not know”

This becomes a fun experience for the whole family that brings pleasure to all of you!

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Children and Gadgets!

TRY NEW EXPERIENCES ALL THE TIME!

I cannot emphasize this enough! What gets us very uninspired and bored with our own lives is doing one and the same thing all the time. We eat the same food, visit the same restaurant, take the same route every day and we are basically on autopilot all the time.

So now its time you enjoyed travelling and seeing new places locally as well.

Find new experiences in your own country. Try a new restaurant that is child friendly, go for breakfast where you could also enjoy a swim together, wake up early and go hiking or instead of a restaurant try food on the sides of the road where they braai meat.

This is a new experience all together. Learn new things from other people and expand your mind from your own surroundings. See how other people live while creating a rich experience for your family.

“This will give you another reason to get up in the morning and get you excited with life“

HAVE A STAYCATION HOLIDAY WEEKEND OR DURING THE WEEK!

This is defined as staying at home or using your home accommodation to participate in activities and leisure locally within a days trip distance and does not require overnight accommodation else where. However some prefer sleeping in a local hotel like i do sometimes.

Maybe this sums up the first three points that i have made. However this is literally being on holiday while you are at home! You do all things you would do if you were on a holiday outside your country.

Children easily get bored and doing one and the same thing all the time may not expand their sphere of influence while seeing other places and participating in activities could be absolutely mind blowing for them.

“Consider that movie outing at the cinema you have been putting onhold”

There are friendly places to consider when you have a new born, an infant or a toddler!

DO MORE ON WEEKENDS!

The temptation for us parents comes as we desire to rest more and that is okay however repeating this every weekend will deplete your energy because there is nothing new you are doing!

Most parents spend time working 9-5 jobs, running businesses and may be working from home but most parents are committed during the weekdays unless you take a leave. This may not be possible often but you do have weekends and can prioritise them for family pleasure and entertainment.

I would say plan ahead, it is always easier when you have planned to take your children somewhere and actually make that goal a reality. This is part of being productive on weekends and it may refresh the whole family.

If your goal is to be present and spend more time with your children. Look for those fun activities to do that will bring you to an awareness of each moment where you are present especially because you are refreshed yourself. Make weekends work for you.

SLEEP AT A LOCAL B&B

My favourite! Perfect way to unwind, relax and just do about nothing while enjoying your children.

Book yourselves a night out with your family, depending on your finances you choose the location and duration of your stay. Remember to choose one that offers child friendly rooms that will not leave you exhausted.

Why exhausted? This is because some places when you have children make you work more than when you are home. Consider the comfort of the rooms and take a look at their family room offers.

Will you be comfortable staying for the night with excited children at that B&B? Consider safety and also detached rooms may not be ideal if you have young children.

TAKE PLENTY OF PICTURES BUT REMEMBER TO ENJOY THE MOMENT!

I must say this one can be very tricky i tell you! Well i know someone relates so well with this! I am a blogging mom so you always want to make the most of content pictures with every chance that you get.

However taking pictures all the time may make you miss the moments especially when you have young children that you need to focus on.

I honestly love being a hands on mommy and giving children their attention so i always have a challenge with taking a lot of pictures because there are moments to be enjoyed while being fully present with the cell phone or camera down.

Just find a harmonious balance that works really well for you and your family. Allow yourselves to be lost in moments of laughter and fulfilment together while not missing these gorgeous moments together.

Planning!

I realise sometimes we share tips on blogs on how to enjoy certain activities but hardly take one through to how they can actually make that a reality.

There is a lot that gets involved in creating such experiences like finances and creating the time for it but its not complicated at all. Many of us believe we do not have time or we have little funds for it. There are ways to adjust your spending both on time and finances.

I used to dedicate a lot of my weekends to activities with friends and sometimes colleagues until i made a conscious decision looking at the kind of mother i desired to be. I wanted to be the present mom who created time for family and a homemaker too. I had to adjust my lifestyle and channel my time and finances to that.

That did not mean not participating in fun activities outside home with friends but it meant my priority became my husband and my children. We all have an idea of what kind of life we desire to create for ourselves. Your desires may be different from mine but still if you have a family you desire to spend time and create lovely moments with them.

Great! So we have quite a number things in common.

CREATING THE FAMILY FUN LIFESTYLE YOU DESIRE!

Be clear what you want and make it a priority

What kind of a parent do you desire to be and what kind of a lifestyle do you want for your family? Let that direct you on what you prioritise in your life.

This will help you learn to to say no to events/ activities that take up all your time or cut down on your attendance to fulfil your family time goals.

Create time!

Plan for such moments with your family and plan ahead so you know what you will need for your outings and longer road trips together.

Pick a date that suits all of you so you are all comfortable and can be able to enjoy.

Financial plan

If you feel at the moment your finances are dedicated somewhere else. Find those expenditures you can totally live without and replace them.

Here are a few ideas!

Cook more than you have take outs even at work so you move around funds for family activities together.
Consider activities you could enjoy for free.
Thrift collect and use pocket change for fun activities.
Avoid impulse buying and plan your spending then enjoy your extra on creating beautiful experiences.

I trust this has been helpful!

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Wrapped In Love,

Futhi Mkhwanazi