Tuesday 8 January 2013

Slowing Down.....

We did not go away for a holiday this year (2012/2013 Christmas holidays). It seemed too hard to plan.  The uncertainty of where we would all be and what we would be doing was too great.

So instead we are enjoying a "staycation".  That is, we are staying home and enjoying doing day and half day trips.  Waking up in the morning, sussing out the weather and then just deciding on what to do.

So far we have:
  • Visited Southbank
  • Enjoyed a trip to the Science Centre
  • Gone to the beach
  • Tried Rock Climbing
  • Walked/Scooted from Kangaroo Point to Southbank (and back again)
  • Visited the local pool
  • Watched the 9pm fireworks with both kids  - I know, how amazing, lol.
And as and added bonus, none of these places have cost us entry fees!  Of course they have included ice creams or coffees or both, but the kids are loving it.  The lack of rushing about to make sure we enjoy every second of being "on holidays".  The relaxed mornings are so much nicer.  We all wake and have breakfast - not necessarily all together, but when we need.  Eventually the beds get made and we change out of our pj's.  We have all be slowing down.  


Slowing down and enjoying that we have no "need" to "do" anything.  Slowing down for a time is so important.  No just for grown ups, but for the little people in our lives too. They also need time to recharge and just "be".  Down-time as such.

Sometimes in life we get so caught up in the rush and desire of what we think kids want, we forget what they really want is simple really.  

Our kids want us.

Our time - just for them.
Us to play with them - not tell them "in a minute".
Our undivided attention - just on them.
Us to stop and listen - to them, directly.  Not while we are sending a text or facebooking.

I try and remember this daily, but like anything it is hard to do.  

But it is so important to these little people.  



I am grateful that over the past three weeks (yes even including Christmas) we, as a family, have had time to relax, slow down and be together.  

To stop and read books, have backyard picnics. We have played board games, backyard cricket, fairy memory match and UNO.  Watched the cricket, probably watched way too much tv in general.  

But we are on holidays and like all good things, this time will be over soon, and the rush will set in. 

So for now, I am grateful for staycations, reading and the slow, lazy days of holidays.

Linking up with Maxabella over at Village Voices for 52 Weeks of Grateful.

3 comments:

  1. Staycations are the biz, SOM. To me they let me live our 'real' life - the life our home affords us when we're not busy making other plans!! Enjoy it all. x

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  2. Sounds kind of similar to what's been happening here, isn't it great, to be out of a routine, to re-connect and regroup :)

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    Replies
    1. It sue is Sam... and welcome! I love the downtime too.

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