Dec 16 2010
Reap Dividends With These Simple Bonding Activities
By: Nicole Marshall
Does your daughter ever act bored with the “usual” activities that you both may do on weekends, or during your mother-daughter time? Especially “tweens” and teenagers, where it may take a lot to impress them or keep them excited about spending time with you. Where’s here’s just a couple of quick ideas that can be easily adjusted to fit your budget.
What about a “staycation?” The urban dictionary defines a staycation as “A vacation spent close to home”. Why not try a day trip to a neighboring city that may have some attraction you haven’t seen yet? Maybe even choose a day spa, restaurant, or maybe a get a hotel for the night. This could provide a great bonding experience, and you can feel like you’re thousands of miles from home! What’s great is you won’t have the usual distractions from home. Perhaps another mother and her daughter might want to join you. Keep it intimate though, so you have that quiet time bond.
On a budget like most of us? What about a day of thrift store or antique shopping? Start the day with a nice breakfast at your place of choice (be it home or your favorite eatery), then designate a set amount of money you would like to spend. Although it may sound cliché, shopping together, away or close to home, can be a great bonding experience! On that same budget note, a spa night at home can be just as satisfying. Designate a day, and block out some time, so you won’t be interrupted! You can try candles to set the mood; don some comfy robes. Lay out your supplies, and give each other mani-pedi’s and maybe even foot massages! Conversation is always better when you’re relaxed, and tweens and teens are always more comfortable when they are doing something they enjoy.
These are just a few ideas that may draw a mother and daughter closer. With the busyness of work, school and extra-curricular activities, it’s tough to carve out the time. Make time! Your child will thank you for it later. You may learn something about your child that you don’t know, and vice versa.