Looking forward to holidays? I know I am!  

It's usually a busy time, sometimes it's a time to relax but usually it's a balancing act. The change in routine is welcomed but does come with new tensions as we manage work, kids and extra curriculars. I always like to dream a little about what I can do to help facilitate fun as a family. I usually aim to increase my time outside too. I often sit by the trampoline and watch the kids or the clouds. It's easy to keep our busyness during the holidays, but sometimes we just need rest. I really hope that whatever your family needs is achieved. I hope it's a restful and fun time for you all.

Holidays might not be restful and fun and that's ok! It could be chaotic, challenging and exhausting. Sometimes the intensity of our term or routine bleeds into our holidays. That’s ok too. If you find that stress follows you onto your holiday, make a note of it, try to see if there is a pattern and reach out for help if you want to change it. It took me years to realise that I was creating pressure on myself to 'relax' on holidays, it made the first few days of holidays hard and it's not an easy box to tick when it is intangible. When I realised this, I was able to come up with a strategy. I give myself some menial jobs like mowing the law to balance my mood (I love the satisfaction of a mowed lawn!). It's hard to go from full steam ahead to relaxing, so I give myself a buffer zone now. As I say to my kids 'practice makes better'. It's hilarious that I have to practice doing holidays well but it's true. Routine is a strange comfort and when you don't have one it can throw you off balance. So be kind to yourself when you have an off day!  

I'm working in the first week of holidays. If you're looking for something to do, send your kids to hang out with me!  I'll be helping on Max Life Day Camp, in Forest Lake, for grades 3-6. See the below flyer for details. 

If you don't have plans for the holidays, it's always worth checking out what local camps are running. I'll usually make an effort to mention the ones I know about here. There are a few running these holidays. Checkout https://su.org.au/qld/#camps-events for details. The Outside School Hours Care (or OSHC) team have some great days out planned too.

Have a happy and safe Easter,

Astrid