Fun Mum?! What the.....?!
- Jan 5, 2017
- 2 min read
Life gets so busy and many times I’m that policewoman and not that “fun mum” that my kids dream of having. I’m that crazy lady racing through the shopping aisles, careening round corners, hunting for specials and that deep breathing at the pay counter is not from exertion but many sighs of relief...another task done without losing a child! Every day is like the "Ultimate Race!"
Some days that “fun mum” is: hidden under piles of washing or yelling like a banshee to get kids in the car for school or struggling to cook dinner whilst playing “20 questions” about one of life’s mysteries. Why do children want to have deep and meaningful conversations at the most inopportune times?
Going to the toilet alone is a luxury, someone always wants to have chat either joins me or stands outside the door; personal time is like movie “Indiana Jones in the Temple of Doom” searching for the lost ark....filled with crazy little natives, dirt, mess and constant 2 hour challenges with no ad break!
The kids tell me about all the fun things other mums are doing even the “reality TV mums” who lavish their children, don’t yell, seem to have spotless homes, cook delicious gourmet meals and even have time to do yoga. Uh huh – apparently Id be more relaxed if I did yoga! *Tip from my eldest. Think my kids watch too many movies!* note to self - limit TV as they get unrealistic ideas about motherhood!
So I began research....yes research, I don’t have time to be creative. I wanted to see what other mums are doing and found some really amazing, simple ideas to add some fun into my already crammed schedule.
Our “Family Bucket List,” criteria meant it couldn’t involve much money, much planning and could be incorporated into part of a daily routine. I now have 100's of ideas for injecting a bit of fun into our lives....
Surprise Dinner with NO CUTLERY (your hubby will love you - spaghetti bolognaise is messy and fun),
Paint people (huge tarp with non toxic paints, allow the kids to paint their entire bodies).
Fort friends (get the kids to build a fort in your lounge room for the ultimate dinner venue).
Camping indoors (setting up the tent inside, criteria torches only. Makes movie night with a difference).
Backwards Dinner (wear your clothes backwards, start with desert and make sure the kids save room to eat the main meal last).
Country and Culture (once a month kids pick a country and dinner is shaped around that culture. My kids ask a thousand questions so make sure you brush up on the capital, language, etc).
Over the last year I have injected some more craziness into our lives and not the kind that involves
yelling but belly laughs, great memories and a reprieve from being that home “policewoman.”
So next time you find yourself saying “Fun Mum, What the ........?! Remember you don’t have to be the “Indiana Jones” on an ultimate quest but a version of “Mary Poppins” that suits you and your family.
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