Getting excited as a family

Photo by Jessica Rockowitz on Unsplash

I sometimes panic when I look up from my phone and see other members of my family glued to a screen. There’s something vacant about it, as if we’re zombies in a trance. I feel the need to light a fire under us, get us excited, or motivated to do something energising!

Technology has a place in our homes, and is essential for everyday life, but how can we prevent it from becoming a bad habit and taking over our family life? My four year old is a TV junkie. 

If I were to entertain every request to turn on the television,  she would never leave the couch. Myself and my husband are guilty at times of aimlessly scrolling, marvelling at memes or chuckling at funny videos. We always have one eye on the WhatsApp groups we have joined, feeling the pressure to reply promptly. 

These activities are singular, lonely and isolating. This is why I am often anxious to get out and do something together; do something we all love; do something to help us connect as a family.

Motivation in numbers

Physical activities that are based outdoors are good for the soul. It can be challenging to make time for them. And take a break from our busy schedules. However, it’s easier to get excited and motivated about something that involves other people. 

And who better than your family to ignite our enthusiasm? Families are made up of different genders, and different personalities with their unique passions and interests. For me organising an activity that we can all enjoy is key. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, but it does need to tick a box for everyone involved. 

My husband is very sporty and active. I love pottering around a forest or beach observing animals and plants. My four-year-old daughter needs to be coaxed out, but she does enjoy an imaginary game of fairies or monsters or whatever mythical creature that has taken her fancy that week.

My ten month old is happy to be swept along with whatever activity we plan, but on a practical level, we need to check the terrain of where our walk will take place. 

When we do a local hike up Burrow Road to Barnacullia my husband can get his exercise, I can immerse myself in nature, and my four-year-old can chase monsters in the woods and wake up mossy rocks that for her are trolls. Meanwhile, my ten-month-old is in the baby carrier taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells of the place.

This type of activity is something we all get excited about. We pack a picnic, put on hiking boots, and treat ourselves to a pint and a hot chocolate in the pub while marvelling at the beautiful views over Dublin Bay. Or spotting different landmarks and watching the Buzzard circle above. We’ve even done this hike with visitors,  our parents and other family members. It’s wonderful to see my four-year-old become so enthusiastic, showing the “newcomer” all the wonderful treasures, and feeling so important as leader of the group. 

Why should we get excited together?

Time with family is so important to me. It helps us create memories and experiences together. These activities are also a perfect backdrop for a family discussion, to air any grievances or express concerns. 

Enjoying these activities together provide moments of emotional connection, and can really cement our relationships. Also, they help family members feel secure, loved, and it gives them a sense of belonging.

I believe that creating experiences together opens up lines of communication- sharing opinions and ideas- as well as giving us a shared experience to talk about at the end of the day. Also, it helps create a suitable environment where family members can feel comfortable in expressing themselves.

In providing our children with these chances to express themselves, I hope that later on in their adolescence they will still feel free to share their hopes and fears with their parents and siblings. They will associate these moments together with being happy together and belonging to one another.  Also, when they see their parents getting excited about doing something together hopefully this will rub off on them, as they generally look to us for cues.

For us as parents,  situations like these allow us to chat to our children and show them examples of our core values. They also give us an insight into how our children are feeling, what concerns they have, and their interests and passions. It is a way to show them that we love to spend time with them, which I think children need to feel in order to be reassured.

Conclusion

For me, getting excited as a family gives everyone a sense of belonging, of security and emotional connection. It helps us bond and solidify relationships, which hopefully is good groundwork for the future. It helps us have a sense of achievement and feel part of a team. 

Chatting about these activities afterwards can provide a platform for discussion, debate and reflection. Making memories and getting excited together as a family can only mean good things for all.