Goals Parenting

2022 Goal Series: 1:1 Time

December 30, 2021

Here’s the 2nd of 8 “major” goals for next year!

I want more 1:1 time with everyone, especially the kids + Josh.

“Thurs-Date”

Annabel came up with this concept – we pick a day of the week for a 1:1 outing with each kid. (It doesn’t have to be Thursday, but some weeks it might be).

On those nights, our nanny can stay a bit later and I can try to come home on the earlier side.

And then . . . date! The idea is not for an elaborate agenda. The ‘date’ could consist of a walk around the neighborhood together, doing a craft project at home in a separate room from the others, and watching some Netflix (come on, BSC season 3!).

More elaborate dates could include trips to the library or bookstore, dinner out (once CV surge has exhausted itself), or a local sports game.

One of the weeks would be reserved for a Josh/me date, though this one might have to be on the weekend for the most part because Josh’s weekday schedule is often a bit unpredictable (ie, he might come home at 7p or 10p and I don’t want to set myself up for disappointment).

Why 1:1?

Family time is great in theory but with 3 kids its often rather loud and I don’t always feel like I get a lot of great individual connection time. G is a little young, but otherwise the kids are a great age for doing this — and I think it will be fun. (And obviously – I can’t leave G out! She would NOT stand for that 🙂 ).

Unrelated pic: anyone recognize this game!? Such fond memories for me . . .

5 Comments

  • Reply Chelsea December 30, 2021 at 8:41 am

    Dr. Mario!

  • Reply Amanda December 30, 2021 at 8:45 am

    I loved that game! And would continue to see those pills for hours after playing.

  • Reply Lisa of Lisa's Yarns December 30, 2021 at 9:15 am

    I loved Dr. Mario!! That was one of my all-time favorite games. It’s funny to see kids playing that old school game on a new system that can handle fancy graphics and such. I also loved the original mario bros games, especially mario bros 3 – all played on a Nintendo. I actually haven’t had a gaming system since our old school Nintendo! I am sure that will change in the years to come when my kids are at a gaming system age, though.

    I love the idea of these 1:1 dates. I would like to start doing that with our almost 4yo but it helps that you said these 1:1 dates are more enjoyable/practical for the big kids. But I could still do something with the 4yo a couple of times a year to give him extra mommy time which he is always craving. I used to take my nephews for aunt dates when they were around his age – we’d usually go to a bookstore with lots of animals and then out for ice cream. I wish my kids had an aunt to take them on aunt dates. Ha. But I was single at the time so it was easy for me to swoop in and give my brother and SIL a break. Now their kids are 14 and 17 and so busy with activities that I don’t think it would cross their mind to do something like that… and they don’t see my kids as much as I saw their kids since they are so busy w/ their careers/activities.

  • Reply Mrs. Candid December 30, 2021 at 9:28 am

    Loving your posts on goal series. Great topics Sarah. It’s helping me design my goals too.
    The game is tetris, I used to be addicted to it 😃

  • Reply Omdg December 30, 2021 at 11:01 am

    I didn’t know you could play classic Nintendo games on the switch! Very cool!

    The 1:1 time is so lovely. I basically never go out, but I do read and talk and snuggle with just Dyl before bed pretty much every night. Sometimes we don’t talk at all, and sometimes we have a long chat and it’s not even about Roblox, dogs, or horses. It’s my favorite time of the day!

    (I was always more of a Tetris girl than dr Mario! But dr Mario is fun too.)

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