Between dance class, Bible Study, grad school, birthday parties, errands, grocery shopping and work our week can seem beyond busy. If I’m being honest, there have been weeks that have gone by that we haven’t eaten a homemade dinner together at the table and quality time with the family has been more than limited. A couple of months ago we decided our family needed an intervention. Life is too short and as we think about our kids turning 5 and 3 in the very near future, we realized life is moving faster and faster around us. And so the idea of Sunday Family Fun Day (SFFD) was born.
On SFFD, we focus on just that, family and fun. We spend the day creating memories with our family. There is NO work done on Sunday, no grocery shopping, no errands, no laundry, basically we don’t do anything that isn’t considered fun. Now we do load the dishwasher after meals, and pick up toys after playing, but other than that everything else can wait.
Spending hours with a mean game of Candyland
As we started telling people about this we got an overwhelming, “that’s awesome, but that would NEVER work in my house”. I would challenge you by asking, why? Why can’t it work? Why can’t laundry wait for one day or the grocery shopping done mid-week? We had to make some major routine changes as I use to spend ALL day Sunday doing these exact things. Chores that were normally done on Sunday are now done throughout the week, we do a major house cleaning on Saturday, so the house is ready for SFFD and grocery shopping now happens on Friday nights. It took some adjusting, but it has all been worth it.
So exactly do we do on Sunday Family Fun Day? Well, a typical SFFD we start the day going to church, followed usually by a trip to Hy-Vee for breakfast, where we take our time and enjoy the conversation. Once we get home, the rest of the day is filled with coloring, games (like Candyland and Chutes and Ladders), magic shows, singing, dancing, hide and seek, lots of dress up and overall just a wonderful time. We put away the phones, we turn off the internet, and we become “yes” parents for the day, giving our undivided attention to our kids. What is a “yes” parent? It’s the one that says YES, instead of “just a minute”, or “after I finish the laundry” when the little one says, “mom, will you play trucks with me?” Or “can we color now?” It becomes a day where chores, errands, work and the routine of life are pushed to the side and we are reminded of why we really became parents, to enjoy, engage and encourage the children we’ve been blessed with.
The kids really look forward to Sunday Family Fun Day and are so excited when it comes. We spend time doing these things during the week, but they know the whole day is dedicated to family on Sunday. I know that dedicating a whole day won’t work for everyone. I understand shift work and weekend work shift, but think of a day that could work. Maybe it’s an evening, a morning, or a Tuesday that you dedicate to disconnecting from the world and reconnecting as a family.
What activity would you engage in during Sunday Family Fun Day?
Our family has Sunday Funday! Each week one person of the family makes the decisions- they pick one movie to watch as a family, one game to play and one “use your imagination” activity!!! I cook for the Sunday Funday Family Feast- a HUGE meal and
We simply enjoy each others company and have a great time!!!
I love the rotating family ideas!!
i already told you this in person, but i think this is so great heather! your kids are so lucky to have you! our family (the WHOLE family! aunts, cousins, my grandma, etc.) spends the day together on saturdays. we go to church in the morning, eat lunch at my grandma’s and then spend the day playing cards or games (or hiking, picnic in the park when its warm). i usually get home in the evening with a van full of exhausted kids, and a week’s worth of laundry waiting for me. but, it can wait! it’s so worth it to spend quality time with the ones we love! thanks for sharing!
I love this, Sara! And I love that you have extended beyond just the walls of your home. Those other relationships are so important as well!!