When my children were young, it was simple to plan enjoyable activities to do together. I'd bring them to parks to feed ducks and on short hikes, we'd sew and make cards. For a while, my husband worked on Sundays, and we had an afternoon routine I loved. We lived in Providence then, and I'd take them to the RISD Museum and then to Pastiche on Federal Hill where we'd share a piece of something delicious and have tea.
Now that they are teens, their interests are their own, and even game night can be a challenge sometimes. I'm fortunate a few of my likes rubbed off on my daughter, and skiing is one of them. I'm thankful that skiing can still be safely done during COVID and its one of the few activities that feels normal in these strange times. My son has been skiing a few times but the cold is not his thing, and I've found it's nice to spend time with her 1:1 this way. Winterplace is exactly 58 minutes from our house, which makes it easy to go for a half-day, and we try and ski at least 3 times a season. We have a routine- we always listen to the Beatles and Janis Joplin on the drive. We prefer meandering the longer trails rather than the need for speed and we agree much of the appeal of skiing is the mountain views and just being outside during a time of year we are mostly in. On the way home, we hit Dairy Queen. It's time well spent with a child growing up too fast!
Of all the things I've introduced her to, skiing and visiting museums are two of our favorite ways to spend time together, and I'm happy they are activities you never outgrow. My son seems more aligned with some of the things his dad really enjoys- fishing and video games are among them, but I can sometimes get him to cook alongside me, shoot some hoops, or head out on a hike. Whatever your interests are, I hope your children end up genuinely liking some of the activities you do, too.
*Winterplace is a sponsor of Macaroni Kid. Learn more about skiing & tubing HERE.
