We have just finished a meal of burgers and sweet corn, fresh from our patch down the road. I am sweeping crumbs from the kitchen as the kids ready themselves for bath time. They still all bathe together, a routine that will soon come to an end as they inevitably grow older and privacy reveals itself. Baths are quick tonight. Hair is scrubbed clean and the dirt on their feet disappears into the bubbles. After baths the kids quickly dress, anticipating what is coming. This is not the usual scenario of stalling with ‘five more minutes Mom…please’ and literally dragging their feet to dry off and get into their pajamas. No, Saturday nights are different because, well, they are Saturday nights.
On Saturday nights we do movies and something sweet. Our oldest two take turns choosing a movie we all can enjoy (Cinderella is a fan favorite and the choice tonight) and then we stretch out on the couch in the living room to indulge in this rare pleasure. Right after the mice and birds finish turning Cinderella’s old ball gown into something magnificent, Luke asks for the brownies we made earlier. On Saturday nights we get to eat something special, a sweet treat usually prepared by the kids and I earlier in the day. I cut out brownies and plop a scoop of ice cream on the side. Luke and Lily gobble them up and we finish the night happily watching Cinderella and Prince Charming live happily ever after.
Rhythms. Special Saturday nights are a rhythm in our family. Around 5:00 every Saturday night in our home you will hear my husband or I say: ‘Live from the farm…it’s Saturday night’ and then this indulgent, special night plays out. And can I tell you something? It’s my favorite night of the week and I’m pretty sure the rest of my family will vouch that it’s their’s, too.
Do you have any rhythms your family looks forward to every day, week, or month that bind you together? A rhythm you do on a regular basis that is expected and always on the horizon? Today I want to share some rhythms we have done in our home as well as rhythms I have gathered from friends and family.
Fun Rhythms with Kids
Game night
Choose a night of the week or the month and play a game together. Maybe it’s the same game or maybe you switch it up every time. Gather popcorn and M & Ms and yourselves around the table and let loose.
Clean out the fridge night
Self explanatory? Choose one night a week or month to clean out the fridge and use only ingredients you currently have to make a hodge podge meal. Let your kids eat yogurt and pickles and clean out the fridge in the process. Big time bonus: you don’t have to cook.
Charcuterie night
A friend does this in her home. They go to the store and pick out a few different cured meats and cheeses, bring them home and make a pretty charcuterie tray. You know the ones at fancy restaurants? Add some nuts, jam, crackers, and veggies and you just made dinner time a bit easier. We do this bi-weekly in our home and our kids love it; mainly because it’s pretty much glorified snacks for dinner. Nobody minds.
Go on an adventure
Walks, go on walks. We call walks adventures at our house because it makes it much more exciting for our kids. We try and do this when the weather is nice enough. It usually happens after dinner when the kids need to burn some energy before we start the bedtime routine.
Pizza night
So cliche, I know. We do pizza every Sunday night, usually with my in-laws. It’s one of the most pleasant nights of the week and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Sometimes the pizza is frozen, sometimes we make our own when we decide to get fancy (and a bit healthier), but either way pizza is for dinner on Sunday night.
Date nights
I am a BIG advocate of date nights with your spouse, but I’m talking about dates with your kids. We try and do this as often as we can and whenever we make time for it, it’s so good. Take one kid out to do something fun, maybe even let them choose. We have done park dates, Target dates, ice cream dates, and just plain old (and ever popular) Chick-fil-A dates. One on one time is huge for our kids and they always feel so loved afterwards.
Snuggles and books (THE simplest rhythm)
This is more of a daily rhythm and so simple and straight forward. Read to mark transitions in the day. Read the Bible during breakfast, read a few books before nap, read a novel at night before bed and prayers. Obviously it doesn’t have to look exactly like that, but using books in your daily rhythm builds in reading time with your kids and helps to ease transitions. It also helps everyone be in the moment together. And a bonus for getting your kids to sleep: I’ve noticed books help to calm my kids before naps and bed.
Rhythms help our family bond and make memories together. They help our kids understand expectations and assist them in marking time and recognizing what is coming. I am a big fan of rhythms and have tried to implement them in our family life as much as possible. What are some rhythms you have in your home? Please share!