Stay-cations

          

 One important aspect of developing a family identity is doing things together.  Family holidays and couple retreats help us bond through shared experiences.  Money doesn't have to be an issue with a stay-cation.
A stay-cation is where you use home as a base for your break, using the money saved on accommodation could be used for activities and easy meals.  We've lived in a number of different cities around Australia and found tourist information centres a great source of ideas.  There are countless free things to do:

•  visit different parks
•  beaches
•  museums
• art galleries
• use the street directory to find new places to go
•  google
•  newspapers.

Get outside away from the electronics and multiple forms of communication for a while, and have a conversation with your family.

We're not born understanding one another, even though we're in the same family.  It takes time and effort to develop rapport.  Shared activities like

•  playing together with board games
• cards
• Wii
•  with a ball outside

 helps us to do this.  Inevitably, funny things happen. Laughing together is great family glue.  Be mindful of not laughing at each other, but with each other.  Fun isn't always spontaneous, with the day to day pressures of family life, so we need to create opportunities.

We have a few rules for stay-cations.
1. No jobs like housework or gardening.  Do these before the weekend.  Use paper plates if necessary.
2. Research and plan some activities.
3. Plan your meals so they're easy, including take away or restaurants

Planning may sound a bit tedious but it does serve a purpose by giving us something to look forward to.  Anticipating is half the fun.  Get the kids involved if it's a family stay-cation.  Ask them what they'd like to do. We were often surprised at what the kids asked for.  They may just like to play a board game, or go on a picnic and play cricket or kick the footy. 

I don't like playing games, especially Monopoly, but if it's a stay-cation, I'll play anything.  We have favourite music we all sing along to, while we play cards.  Now our kids are grown up, the Bee Gees and ELO still trigger happy memories, and we still sing when we play cards.  Kids want our time and attention.  A stay-cation is a great way to give them that.

We plan a break four times a year.  We have a longer holiday at Christmas and in the middle of the year and two weekends.  I love going to Kings Park in September to see the wildflowers.  We make a picnic, buy the newspaper, take a blanket and cushions and lie around under the trees relaxing, enjoying the gloriuos surroundings.  We plan to do things we'd enjoy but don't usually have time for.

By giving ourselves permission to relax, we take the time needed to nurture our relationships, build a family identity and develop ties of fun affection.