I’m sharing how I stay active with my family thanks to Stayfree® as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #StayfreeSisters
With two active kids, involved with sports, scouts, swim and even the arts, you can imagine how busy our lives are. What might surprise you is that I actually enjoy being busy. My personality thrives on routine but I also secretly enjoy the impromptu birthday parties, music performances and playdates that are often scheduled at the last minute. I try to be flexible and adaptive and my only real caveat is that when it comes to schoolwork, which takes precedence over any extracurricular activity. So how do I balance it all? Some days, it feels more like a juggling act, but here are my best tips for staying active with your kids while maintaining your sanity.
1. Keep a Visible, Accessible Family Calendar: Years ago, when our schedules became more complicated than our finances, I decided that it was time to create a calendar that could be accessed by every member of our family. At present, we use Google Calendar which is ideal since it’s live and accessible from any device with an internet connection. I’ve color-coded our schedules and the functions native to the calendar make it easy to set alerts and reminders.
2. Be Prepared for Anything: So I realize that no matter how much forethought goes in to “being prepared,” the unexpected can and often does happen. However, having an arsenal of “supplies” on-hand can help with everything from minor injuries to the spills and accidents. Since I no longer carry around a diaper bag, my essentials include band-aids, Children’s Motrin, an extra change of clothes, water and snacks, sunscreen, my iPhone charger, and Stayfree® Ultra Thin® Pads. As a busy woman on-the-go, I don’t have time to worry about leaks or stains and the Stayfree® brand helps me stay protected throughout my day.
3. Learn to Say No: Admittedly, this is difficult for me. But in order to keep my sanity, sometimes I say no so that I can say yes to the really important things in our family’s life.
4. Communicate to Relate: In the midst of running my kids between soccer practice and helping them complete their homework, I often find myself communicating with my kids logistically as opposed to relationally. I’ve made it a habit to ask my kids every single day what the best part of that day was and why. Sometimes this occurs in the car on our way to swim lessons. But more often, while we’re sitting down together for a meal, I’lll look each of my children in the eye and show them how important it is for me to hear about their day.
5. Plan for Downtime: Everyone needs a break, even the Type-A personality types like myself : ). Friday nights, you’ll often find us watching the family-friendly films we missed in theaters. My kids absolutely love movie night and since we try to stay active and avoid the physical and mental drain of devices, this is our opportunity to sit together as a family to watch something that is wholesome and engaging. As a side note, I am a huge advocate for moms taking some time for renewal. Whether it’s a day at the spa or an hour at the gym, this precious time to focus on you will help energize you to continue staying active with your kids.
What are your tips and tricks for keeping up with your kids? I’d love to share ideas in the comments section below.
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I use a family calendar it lists everything going on in the house for a month along with the kids play dates, school activities, and family time. It save time preparing for daily activities, and everyone knows what is happening !