In fact, it can be very hard to have family time over the weekends with a lot of social engagements.
Weddings, parties, help, dinners, lunches etc etc.
Maybe family time will be in the car.
I am ok with spending time beyond the three of us. It is inevitable that my husband and I have a big family, always making an effort to eat together or shop together or coffee together.
I like it actually.
But I also like the times where we just have a nice time just the three of us.
Usually it is on a weekday, after work and solat Marghrib that we head out.
Get some dinner, take a walk and then head home.
But it will be the time we explore new places and doing new things.
Having a child and new things is easy because as Rania grows up, there are more things which she wants to do and more places which we can go.
Personally, I cannot wait to go to the Zoo and Bird Park.
So while last weekend we did not get to do much, last night after work, we headed to Changi Airport Terminal 3.
I still prefer the Terminal 2 rather than 3 which was why we decided the change of 'wind'.
Dinner at Popeye's was not so fantastic.
Rania had a good time watching the water fountain.
I always emphasized a good father and daughter time because I have fond memories of bonding with my late dad and I would not want Ranis to miss such wonderful moments.
After the fun we had, we spent some husband and wife time talking over coffee at Ya-Kun, of which thankfully Rania was asleep that we could concentrate more on our conversations.
We spoke about a lot about work and life and things have been going for us so far.
It was awesome. It didn't need to be a weekend.
In fact, Alfi and I practiced this because most weekdays are so busy for us with tuition and work and weekends we may have surprise engagements.
So the only way to ensure some quality time is to spend the time together, regardless of a weekend or a weekday.
How did you fit in time for your family and how do you spend it?
xoxo
you have a very healthy family time together.. if only my family does HALF of what your family is doing.. life would be better..
ReplyDeleteif you think your life's bad, others has it worse.
:)
"life can only get better"..
Dear Anonymous,
DeleteThank you for the kind words. Alhamdulillah my family tries to make an effort to have that quality time.
It may be just over lunch or dinner or a cuppa coffee. Bottom line, both parties need to sacrifice and come together. I had a hard time sacrificing my time. I had a lot of work. Then I learnt it from my dad to sacrifice.
Insya Allah, when you have your own family (sorry but I am not sure if you are married) then you can set your own rules and have your time.
Quoted from my own FB account on 1st Oct:
"I was enjoying my Mac D Hotcakes and realised the lady next to me was talking softly to herself. Despite all that I have gone through, I must remember there are many who have it worse than me. With that, I said my thanks to Him for being the Most Merciful."
I know a lot more has it worse than me. Poverty, hunger, homeless. These are people who have it far worse than me. Which is partly why I refuse to let myself be in the slumps. I want to get up and move on. I am THAT determined.
Yes, insya allah "Life can only get better." For you and me :)
We share the same goal- quality family time.
ReplyDeleteWhen i used to live with my parents and with only 1 girl, we try to slot in 'date night'. Now that we have our own place and two girls, it is hard to do so without feeling guilty. Hubby is the kind who doesnt like to leave his girls long. So we compromise by putting the girls to sleep early and we just talk at the sofa or dining table. If we are so tired from work, a short pillow talk suffices.
Also since our parents live on different ends of sg, considerable car rides are in order. Our girls are easily lulled by car rides so we can do catch-up in the car as you guys do.
I am also in favour of gd father and daughter relationship. In fact i believe what you had with your late dad is wat i have with mine. Hubby is awestruck by the fact that i am unashamed (mother of two) can play 'tickle my dad' in public, hold his hands while walking, hug him as and when i feel like it and i even tease my eldest that 'atuk loves ibu more', which prompts her to cry. With that, my hubby declared that he wants HIS girls to have the same relationship as i do with mine.
Therefore on wkends, even when he is bogged down with work and school, a simple family dinner (in house or otherwise) is in place. It may be short but it suffices.
I am so happy that you have your better half who thinks likewise as i am happy that mine does. Like they say, sharing is caring.
I am so happy just by reading your comment. Yes, sharing is caring and I am glad how much you are enjoying the times with your dad and especially the time you spend with your husband and kids.
DeleteI never thought putting aside time will be hard when I have kids. When I have Rania, I was no longer my own superwoman. I was her superwoman which is why I need to make an effort to put specific time for the family.
Thing is you already have two.. I am only with one. I hope I can juggle it as well as you when I plan out for no.2!
*hugs* Thank you for sharing that this is doable. We just need to put in the effort!
xoxo
My husband too has the same mentality as yours that he could not leave Rania at home and we head out for single night out (which makes me crave for one now! *lol*)