Family Picnics
Recently I read my son's story book, where he wrote about our
last holiday. It said "We are going to Tathra, because we never
get to go anywhere". I'm afraid it's true. Lack of funds and my
husband's work commitments generally means we are staying home
when other people are leaving town. But one thing we do do - and
do often - is have picnics.
Picnics are a great way to spend some quality family time
together. And it's a fun way to do something special when a
holiday is out of the question. Even though it doesn't take up
much time, it can be just as meaningful as a holiday. I can
remember each picnic our family has had - and I know the
children do too.
The best thing about having a picnic, is it's easy to have a
picnic that suits your needs. If you only have an hour to spare,
you can make a quick snack and take it down to the local park or
river. If you want to make a day of it, packs lots of food and
lots of games and pick a place that is good for a walk or a
swim. And don't forget to take a camera, so you don't miss out
on your "holiday shots".
If money isn't an issue, pack some special food that you don't
generally eat. Splurge on the kinds of foods that you generally
pass by in the supermarket. If you're on a budget, then limit
the foods to less expensive ones. Enhance the experience by
cooking some food with your children beforehand.
Picnics can also be a great time to socialise with other people
without having to spend a lot of time preparing your house or
trying to impress. Ask people to bring along their own picnic
lunch or a meal or snack to share. On the subject of
socialising, I've found picnics are a fun way to have a cheap
stress-free birthday party. Children seem to have more fun in an
outdoor environment and there's very little cleaning up to do
afterwards.
Our family has special picnic spots that we go to often. They
feel like our own special places. But we also like to try out
new spots. There are so many places you can go to have a picnic;
neighbouring towns, spots by a river, playgrounds, historic
buildings, botanic gardens, national parks. When all you need is
a picnic rug and a hamper full of food, there are tons of
possibilities. I could have a picnic at a new spot every week
and still never run out of places to go.
We also have special days when we have picnics. Boxing Day is a
good day for us to have a picnic. It gets rid of some of those
Christmas leftovers. However, I do live in Australia and the
weather might be a bit better for a picnic on Boxing Day for me
than it is for you. A picnic can become a pain if you are not
prepared. Check and double-check your food hamper. Do you have
enough plates, knives, serving spoons, napkins? Make sure you
have a picnic rug if you need one. Check the weather and be
prepared. Take sunscreen, hats and aeroguard if necessary, or
warm coats if the weather is cooler. If there's a possibility of
rain go somewhere where you can eat under shelter.
Think about ways you can make your picnic even more special.
Take a pretty tablecloth, pretty napkins and a nice centrepiece.
Write notes to your family, telling them how much you love them
and love spending time with them, and place them under their
plates. Include a favourite food for each family member. Pack a
surprise that nobody knows is in there. Create your own picnic
traditions. How about a special song you sing on the way to the
picnic? My sons and me sing a song about a bumpy road that
always has everybody in giggles. Create a picnic king or queen.
Make special hats that you only wear for picnics. Create a rule
that everybody going on a picnic has to wear something blue or
red.
If everybody is starting to get stressed or irritated, then
it's time to rethink what you're doing. If you hate cooking,
don't feel like you have to cook food for the picnic. Buy it
instead. Don't make everybody play a certain game if nobody
really likes it. The picnic should reflect what your family
likes doing. Remember that the idea of a picnic is to bond as a
family and have fun.