Routine Magic

As a working mama, I have found that I have to go out of my way to plan things for my family. Not so much on the weekend, although I am getting much better about filling out schedule, but rather with providing Little Bug, Appa, and I with those fun little memories, things that might be too small to block a weekend off for, but are definitely not your normal night at home.

My days are spent at work and my evenings between the hours of 4:00-8:oo pm are spent with Little Bug feeding him, playing with him, working on his therapy, bathing him, and putting him down to sleep. Honestly, although 4 hours seems like a lot of time, it goes by really quickly. One or two errands will throw our whole routine off, and my family thrives on routine.

However, routine is also rarely magical or memorable.

So I am trying hard to find little things I can do in the evening that are magical and memorable and still within that 4 hours time block. Sometimes I take Little Bug out to eat by myself (Appa usually works late). Sometimes we finger paint in the back yard or have a picnic or play in a fountain or take swimming lessons.

With the weather in the Midwest, my plans have had to become even more creative (which is a stretch for me because I am really not creative at all). So, when I saw our local botanical garden had a "choo choo" exhibit, I made an effort to get tickets (for three separate dates). We went for the first time last night.

And it was magical.

It only took an couple hours in that sweet spot between dinner and bed time, but it was definitely a memory for me, and a real treat for Little Bug. It was something out of the ordinary and exciting and simple. I'm hoping to make this a tradition in my family in the coming years.

Spending time with my son is always special, but sometimes you need to break the routine for something even more special.