Giving mum a break

Mothers are truly amazing and I never get tired of saying that.

Raising a child is an emotionally and physically exhausting role, sometimes lonely. Sleep deprivation is like that unwanted, painful relative than never leaves. Finding balance is almost a laughable idea. More than balance, mothers strive to survive and remain sane.

With our first child, I was back at work after a few weeks while my wife was running the show at home. It was only until we had our 2^nd child – when I was working from home on Purposit– that I could fully comprehend and appreciate the incredible job that mums (like my wife!) do. I’ve often heard people saying that going to the office for work was easier than looking after children full time at home. I think they are right. And many women juggle both a career and raising their children which is equally astounding to me.

But how do mothers do it? Love, love, love!! Unconditional love. They fill their hearts with the incredibly rewarding experiences that come from watching their kids learn and evolve everyday. They are always there when needed. They forgive even when it hurts and care enough to say ‘no’ when required. As challenging as it may feel sometimes, mums would not have it any other way and they really do give up a lot of personal time and freedom just to see their children happy.

That all said, mothers are not made of steel and also need time for themselves – for sanity’s sake. As we approach Mother’s Day, this seems like the right time to share my list of gifts for kids that can be enjoyed with dad while giving mum a well-deserved break. Sometimes the best gift you can give them is a day off or a chance to sleep in.

These gifts have one aspect in common – they are experiences rather than toys. They are about learning, exploring and sharing time together – and of course, about having fun!

So fellow dads, take your picks. These gifts can be enjoyed over a couple of hours or take up a full day or weekend. They are both gifts for the kids, for you and for your wife (break time!). These are the gifts that keep on giving:

Zoo passes: Taronga Zoo in Sydney and the Australia Zoo in the Sunshine coast are among the regional zoos offering discounted annual passes for children and families. The off road safari at Werribee Open Range Zoo is also worth checking out in you live in Victoria. But try to avoid the weekend rush.

Local attractions: From a sailing experience on an original Tall Ship in Sydney to playing detective and solving crimes at the Escape Hunt in Melbourne, Perth or Brisbane, there are plenty of interesting activities to be enjoyed with your kids in all major capital cities. In the country side, you have the extra attractions from  fascinating historical sites and the occasional haunted prison.

Sea life parks: Kids are fascinated by life under water, partially due to the popular Octonauts. Australia is blessed with great Aquariums, sanctuaries and diving spots. Enjoy walking underwater amongst sharks and giant rays, getting close and personal with seals and learning heaps about our underwater friends. If you are on the coast, you can just take your kids for dolphin or whale watching sites. Nobody gets bored when whales are involved.

Movie tickets: This one requires little planning in advance, making it good for a spontaneous dad to surprise kids and wife. Add a bag of popcorn to share and enjoy the latest animated films from Disney or Pixar.

Camping: It may not be every mum’s cup of tea, but it’s a great way for daddy-o to bond with the kids. Add a few marshmallows on a stick, a fire pit and scary story telling before bedtime and your children will likely remember that forever.

Short gateways: A weekend away to the country side or the beach will do wonders to bring mum’s sanity back and make dad cool again. It does not need to be expensive, as the adventure is what matters for kids.

‘Get active’ activities: From kayaking to bushwalking; horse riding to cycling; all these activities are fun and allow you and your little ones to enjoy nature, be active and have an adventure together.

DIY kits: If you can’t leave home for some reason, some DYI gifts are a great way to keep kids engaged while mum can treat herself having lunch with her friends somewhere else. Who does not love to make homemade soap or paint a jar? What about a paper collage? These are great ways to foster creativity. Just be aware that things can get messy and you will need a DYI cleaning kit.

Museum tours: Many museums have special programs for children. There are plenty of places to explore, spark your kids imagination and introduce your little art lovers to culture and history. The best part is that several activities for kids are free of charge in most museums.

Sport events: Choose sport that your kids enjoy and take them to watch a professional game. The stadium atmosphere alone is worth the effort and watch their faces of wow as the game magic happens.

Theatre: Look out for local theatres with child-friendly plays on or maybe just book a one-day drama acting class for both you and the kids. Some dads may be wondering.. “but don’t we have enough dram at home as is?”. Trust me, it will be great fun!

There is plenty more that can be added to this list, so no excuse for not giving your wife & mamacita a well deserved break while having a fantastic time with your kids. If you have ideas or suggestions of other activities you want to give your kids, please share them with us.

Finally, while this article was written in the spirit of Mother’s Day, it also applies to the amazing stay-at-home dads and caretakers who do the wonderful job of raising our next generation.