Weekends come fast, and if you’re like me, they can also disappear in a blur of laundry piles, grocery runs, and last-minute birthday parties.
By Sunday night, I sometimes catch myself wondering: did I really connect with my kids, or did I just manage the logistics?
I don’t want Elise (4) and Julien (14 months) to grow up remembering me as the guy always unloading the dishwasher or running errands.
I want them to remember laughter, adventures, and those ordinary-but-magic moments that felt bigger than the to-do list.
Here are seven simple but powerful ways I’ve found to make weekends matter more.
1. Eat at least one meal together, no phones in sight
Saturday mornings are pancakes for us. It doesn’t matter if we’re in pajamas or halfway through unloading groceries—at some point, we sit down and eat together.
Phones go in a drawer. The TV stays off. Elise helps stir the batter; Julien usually ends up with syrup on his hair.
It’s messy, but it’s ours.
This isn’t just a nice ritual—it’s supported by research. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that family meals don’t just create fun memories; they’re also linked to better well-being and healthier habits for both adults and kids.
That’s a huge payoff for something as simple as sitting down at the table.
2. Get outside, rain or shine
Every weekend, we do one outdoor activity—no matter what.
Sometimes it’s as simple as a walk around the block with the stroller. Other times it’s a trip to the park, scooters in the driveway, or a nature trail that takes us way longer than it should because Elise has to stop at every interesting rock.
Being outside breaks the monotony of indoor routines and shifts everyone’s mood. There’s fresh air, space to move, and no walls to bounce off. Even when it rains, splashing in puddles becomes its own kind of fun.
And the bonus? Nature is one of the best backdrops for connection.
Whether it’s throwing sticks into a creek or lying on the grass spotting cloud shapes, those simple outdoor rituals create memories that feel bigger than the moment.
3. Do something creative side by side
Kids light up when we enter their world instead of just supervising it. That could mean building with blocks, painting messy finger art, or helping Elise draw her “fairy castle zoo” (a mashup she insists is totally real).
I’ve noticed that when I sit down with markers or Legos, my kids open up. They tell me things about preschool or what they’re worried about in ways they wouldn’t if I just asked direct questions.
This is backed by Harvard Health, which notes that play helps children “practice key skills and build their strengths” — it’s not just fun, it fuels brain growth, emotional regulation, and deeper bonds.
Creativity doesn’t need fancy supplies; paper, crayons, and ten minutes of undivided attention can work wonders.
4. Share the chores, not just the fun
Weekend housework can feel like a black hole. If I wait until naptime or after bedtime, it piles up.
So we started looping Elise in. She “helps” fold towels, puts spoons in the drawer, or spritzes the plants with water. Julien rides in the carrier while I vacuum.
It takes longer—no surprise there—but chores together have an unexpected benefit. They make kids feel capable.
A La Trobe University study found that children who regularly help with chores show stronger working memory and self-control skills, which are crucial for later success.
So while my towels are folded in creative, lopsided stacks, my daughter beams with pride because she did it. And that’s worth more than perfectly crisp corners.
5. Plan one adventure that breaks routine
It doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Sometimes we go to a farmer’s market and taste fruit we’ve never tried. Other times we drive to a different playground across town.
One Saturday, we got on the bus just for the experience—Elise thought it was the best day of her life.
The key is to step slightly outside the normal loop. New experiences don’t just keep weekends interesting; they also help kids build flexible thinking and problem-solving skills.
When they see us adapting—finding parking, figuring out bus routes—they learn to handle the unknown with curiosity instead of fear.
And selfishly? These are the weekends I remember most, too.
6. Slow down for one-on-one moments
In the whirlwind of family life, kids can feel like they’re always sharing attention. That’s why I try to carve out one little “just us” ritual each weekend.
Maybe it’s a story before nap with Julien while Elise is out with Camille, or a scooter ride with Elise while the baby naps at home.
Even ten minutes of one-on-one time feels big to a child. They get our full focus. No interruptions, no split attention.
Those are the moments that echo back later when they feel safe enough to share something important.
It’s the steady drip of connection that fills their memory bank.
7. End the weekend with a family wind-down
Sundays can get hectic—prepping lunches, finishing laundry, packing backpacks. To counter the rush, we started a small ritual: “Sunday Snuggle Story.”
Everyone piles on the couch in pajamas, we read two or three books, and then Camille and I talk out loud about what we’re looking forward to next week.
It grounds us. The kids hear that yes, Mom has a busy work trip and Dad has meetings, but also that we’re excited for Saturday’s picnic or Friday movie night.
They go into Monday feeling secure, knowing what’s ahead and that family time isn’t just a weekend thing—it’s woven through the week.
That rhythm of winding down together signals to them: no matter how busy life gets, this family sticks close.
Final thoughts
When I picture my kids ten years from now, I know they won’t remember which weekend I got the gutters cleaned or the errands I ran.
But they will remember pancake mornings, muddy boots by the back door, and bedtime stories with everyone squished together on the couch.
These seven practices aren’t complicated. They don’t require perfect planning or Instagram-worthy setups. They just require presence.
And if we show up consistently, those ordinary weekends stack into extraordinary memories—the kind our kids carry for life.
So maybe the better question isn’t “How much did I get done this weekend?” but “What will my kids remember from it?”
That shift alone can make the difference between weekends that vanish and weekends that truly last.
