Mother's Day Weekend

May 11^th, 2012

Dad’s Day!

Mother’s Day weekend is here. It’s your day to shine as a Dad and husband. Mom might be at the spa for some much needed time away, or at the beach without chasing kids, or on the golf course for a change. This is your weekend to spend time with your children. It’s your day and you’re probably thinking, “What the hell are we going to do?” The answer is simple—organize your day from breakfast-to-bath. This doesn’t mean every minute must be taken up with some sort of craft, activity, game or adventure. Plan for down time, too, because you’ll need it to recover from the running around you’ll be doing.

I have 3 simple steps for a great weekend day, regardless of the holiday:

1.     Plan your day before it gets here.

2.     Pack for the day.

3.     Play! The day is about Us.

1. Easier than you might think. Take ten or fifteen minutes to chart out a full day. Research on the Internet what parks are open, any festivals or museums. What to do is something that is completely dependent upon how many kids you have, time of year, weather, etc.

Always have a contingency plan. This becomes as important as the plans for the day. A contingency plan can alleviate frustration from anything unexpected, like rain, snow or hurricane. What to do is also dependent upon the age and ability of your children. It’s spring now, so yard work is typical, but with a toddler, I say let the weeds grow. Little perpetual motion machines are not going to like hoeing a garden for long. After five minutes, you’ll lose those beautiful annuals to the blade of a master ninja, or, when we were young, Voltron’s blazing sword.

           

Another great thing about the plan is to find something fun for you. Take them to the driving range. Kids love to hit something. A bucket of balls, two strokes off your game and an hour used up in the day. The point is to find something that you enjoy. Your kids will feed off your happiness. Make that the theme of your day with them, “Happiness!”

           

2. Rooted in #1. Children, whether they are in school or younger, have coordinated days, where their schedule is as regular as an atomic clock. This maybe hyperbole, but I dare you to miss a snack for kids five years or younger, and the change they undertake from cute cuddly princess into a banshee. Bring a cooler with juice and water, snacks, a change of clothes (even for yourself), sporting equipment (because you’re Dad and you like sports), sanitizer, hand wipes, and other necessities. You get the idea. There is no such thing as over-packing, and all of it can stay in the car while everyone is having fun in the aquarium or wherever it is you are. A first aid kit is always a great thing to have as well. Every kid knows a Band Aide makes all boo-boos feel better. It’s magic, don’t ask.

           

3. My parents never had a cell phone and my brothers and I turned out just fine, at least I did. Bring your cell phone, but turn it off, power it down, take out the battery, whatever it takes to make you ignore it. You’ll know if your wife is going to call and when. You’ll know if there is anything important still lingering at the office (it should wait). Known fact: The less attention paid to a stupid application on your phone, the greater the interaction will be with your children (cited from the American Board of Common Sense). No fights between siblings as to which one gets to play Angry Birds. Your day is a perfect way to reconnect with them about their life.

I’m not advocating helicopter parenting, hovering over them and compensating for all of the time you’ve had to spend away from them, while at the office or on business trips. And don’t buy your way back into their lives. Their friends don’t, why should you. If one of your children is having a problem with school, then talk to them and catch them off guard. This is a perfect time to address it without the stigma of dinner table gazes. Making a nonchalant remark while hitting golf balls is a great way you can help in a less confrontational environment.

Forget about work, your upcoming week from hell, and the email inbox that is overflowing with three-alarm fires. Engage in reconnecting with your children. Ask them about their lives, and get to know what they like to eat, drink, play or talk about.

Plan, Pack and Play, three things that almost seem too easy, but will make your day that much more special and memorable.
Michael Premo