Back to school: for kids and parents too
Parents have the time to learn something new or take up a hobby now that children have returned to school. By
The long school holiday is finally over and the children are back at school. It’s been six weeks of keeping them entertained and happy. For some parents it’s time to breathe a sigh of relief. School’s back and the pressure at home is off.
But suddenly the house seems empty – too empty. You wonder if it’s socially acceptable to borrow someone else’s kids so you can pretend you’re racing cars through the supermarket. You realise you haven’t taken your daily stroll to the park – but there’s no need to now that your seven-year-old is at school.
Parents, now that your 9-3 has become your own again, it’s time to turn that silent plea on its head and ask yourself how you’re going to keep yourself entertained while your kids are at school. Fortunately when it comes to time-filling, the world is your oyster.
Wish you could crochet or catch your dinner from the ocean? Take up a hobby. Learn to cook or set up a blog. Try your hand at gardening or learn how to arrange flowers. Join a book club, take up photography, or dust off your 7th form easel and embrace your inner Michelangelo.
Do something you wish you’d done ages ago. Learn how to use Excel. Learn how to swim. Declutter your wardrobe. Revamp your interior decorating. Finish an incomplete degree, or add another to your resume. It’s never too late to live a life of no regrets.
Become more active in your community. Volunteer at your local food bank or op shop. Set up a community group that helps disabled, elderly or at-risk people in your neighbourhood. Put your hand up to coach your children’s sports team, or donate a few hours of your time a week to their school. Community organisations are always screaming out for more hands; maybe yours are available.
Take up yoga or golf. Join boot camp or an indoor netball team. Find a social walking group on Neighbourly to join (or set one up if you can’t find one near your place). Join the gym or start training for a 10km run. Becoming active doesn’t have to equal becoming competitive; get your pulse racing and have fun doing it.
Become your own boss. Set up your own business, or start teaching other people how to do something you’re awesome at. Working for yourself could offer a degree of flexibility that the average nine-to-five might not, so if it’s something you’ve always considered, now could be the time to give it a go.
If you feel a little lost now that your kids are back at school, there are tonnes of things you can do to fill your time; check out Neighbourly for more ideas.