Dallas finally dropped below 90 degrees this week, and if you've got kids, you already know exactly what that means: everyone wants to be outside, all the time, immediately.
The timing couldn't be better. Fall Break and The State Fair of Texas, provide plenty of inspiration.
For our three kids, the second the weather breaks, we're out the door — a walk before dinner, more time at the playground, maybe a day at the Fair or a quick getaway to a state park. After a summer that kept everyone indoors more than we'd like, just having real outdoor time back on the table feels like its own kind of holiday.
Making outdoor time a ritual, not a scramble
A few small things we've been doing to make the most of it:
- Packing snacks and water so the day doesn't get derailed by a meltdown
- Keeping it stress free — if the idea makes me anxious, we're not doing it, good vibes and easy spirits is the name of the game
- Coming together afterwards to connect and share
After an outing (or any shared experience) we sit down as a family and talk about what we enjoyed about our time together. We do this over a cup of tea, something herbal and calming that the kids will enjoy and also helps us all unwind.
Creating these kinds of rituals for our family has been an important part of raising our kids. It allows us time to genuinely connect, our kids feel encouraged to share their feelings and we're all gaining memories we can cherish for a lifetime.
Whatever your family's version of “finally, outside again” looks like this week — the Fair, the Farmers Market, or just the backyard after dinner — I hope it is filled with joy.
Welcome to the family.
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