Fun can be fun even if it isn't your fun

Truth #1

I consider myself a fun mum. I take the kids to the farm, the beach, the museum. We go puddle jumping and dandelion picking and we always play kiss monster when we go to the playground.

But sometimes I can get so caught up in planning the fun, that I miss out on the fun that’s already there.

Today I was checking in with the kids every half hour or so, asking if they were ready to do an activity from the jar (we have a jar filled with prompts for fun things to do together when we have time). They kept saying no. They were busy building a cubby, and playing with cars, and then throwing a burrito around (IYKYK). So I pulled out my laptop, got through some work, and just let them be.

Come late afternoon, and I’m starting to get bored. We’ve been home all day, and we haven’t done anything fun yet! We haven’t chosen an activity to do, and if we don’t start soon we won’t have time before dinner!

I’m just about to really push my kids to stop playing so we can pick an activity, when I realise how ridiculous those thoughts are. They were already having fun! I was just too busy planning MY fun to notice THEIR fun.

So I put down my agenda, and watched them finish mixing the mud. Then they coated their whole bodies in mud (apparently that’s what you do when you “live outside”). I pulled out towels and set everything up inside for a clean transition to the bath. And then I joined in! I watched them paint themselves. I hosed them down with the sprinkler. I threw mud back at them when they splashed it onto me. We laughed and enjoyed the moment. And then we all went inside to get cleaned off.

Having fun with your kids doesn’t have to be Pinterest perfect or Insta-worthy. It doesn’t need to be pre-planned and pre-booked. When we set aside our plans, we can join them in their spontaneity. Their fun can be your fun too.

Try it: Instead of only having planned fun, join your kids in whatever game they are already playing.

Beck xx