Two hours to reset the family

Sometimes family life can feel like it’s reaching fever pitch…

Perhaps the schedule has been too full, or a major event has impacted normal routines.

Maybe it’s been too long between ‘Family Meetings‘ which can be a great way to gather and assess how everyone’s going and address any grievances or relational difficulties affecting family members.

How each family handles the ups and downs of life depends on so many things, but in our 17 years of parenting, we’ve learned one valuable way that has never failed to change the mood or shift the weight to help deal with a situation.

Sam and I used to think that any family outing or trip needed to be long in order to be refreshing and worthwhile.

What we realised is that when we planned an elaborate outing or spent too much money on one event, we often came away feeling more stressed or worn out than when we began! The energy we had expended often cost us more than we bargained on.

It’s hard work to pack food for seven children! Drink bottles, a change of clothes for little ones, the nappy bag, a stroller, hats or jackets (depending on the weather) and the myriad of extras that find themselves into my handbag ‘just in case’ they are needed.

So what’s the answer? How do you create a circuit breaker that is simple and easy?

Sam and I call it the ‘2-hour reset’. We realised that some of our most fun and relaxing trips were ones where we decided, often spur of the moment, to jump in the car and head out.

It could be to the park, for a walk, to the beach or to a winery. The key is to make it close enough to home that the WHOLE TRIP only takes a couple of hours. If it’s much shorter, it doesn’t feel like enough time away from home and the routine. If it’s longer, it normally involves buying or taking food, and it can just take up too much of the day.

We’ve learned to rally the troops, do a last toilet visit, grab drinks and just get in the van. The sooner we leave the house, the better, although I have discovered that coming home to a clean kitchen feels great.

I think why the 2-hour reset works so well is because it can be to almost anywhere. Sam and I will have a quick chat and pick a place to go so that keeps it super easy. Spontaneity can be a parent’s best friend!

One of the tried and tested elements to the outing is physical exercise, be that a brisk walk, a windy run along the beach (one of our favourite times is after tea and before bed for this one!) or some rough and tumble on a lawn.

We all get home invigorated, energised, happy and refreshed.

And having those positive emotions and new family memories helps to combat fatigue, overwhelm or tension.

Does your family do something similar?