There are so many things to juggle as a mom – work, school drop-offs, church commitments, meal planning, all the things. It’s easy to feel like life is just a whirlwind of schedules and obligations. But can I let you in on a little secret? Your family doesn’t need more activities—they need more of YOU. ❤️
The Time You Already Have
Spending quality time together isn’t about adding one more thing to your plate—it’s about making the most of the time you already have. So, let’s talk about 3 realistic, life-giving ways to connect as a family, even when life gets busy!
Turn Daily Moments into Connection Points
You don’t need fancy outings to make memories. The best bonding happens in ordinary moments. Take advantage of the time you have. Have Car Conversations. Turn off the radio and ask, “What was the best part of your day?” Let them chat and just listen. Turn Dinner Time into Conversation time. Make it fun with a game like “Highs, Lows, Buffaloes” (each person shares their high point, low point, and a silly thought from the day). Have Bedtime Chat and Prayer time. Even five minutes of heart-to-heart chats every night before bed can make a big impact. It builds a good daily prayer routine that will go with your kids as they become adults.
Put Boundaries on Busyness
I get it—there are sports, church events, birthday parties… but when everything is important, nothing truly is. It’s okay to say NO to protect your family’s time. Look at your schedule and ask: Are we overcommitted? What can we cut back on? Set “No-Plan Days” where your family stays home and just enjoys each other.
Family Night
Schedule Family Time like an appointment. Life gets busy, if it’s not on the calendar, it probably won’t happen! Instead of letting weekends get filled with errands and obligations, be intentional about family fun! We started with Friday Family Night with pizza games and a movie. Everyone had it on their calendar and it stuck for years.
Sunday Funday
As the kids got older and Fridays became their sports and friend sleepover nights we exchanged Friday Family Night for Sunday Funday. There aren’t as many school activities on Sundays and they just need a bit of time to get ready for the week ahead. Some of the fun included picnics in the park with basketball and soccer, family game night or taking turns planning and making dinner. We even had a few Chopped nights where the kids prepared dishes using one of the mystery ingredient baskets. We voted for the best appetizer, main dish and dessert and then gave out silly awards. It was so fun to see their creativity spark!
Restful Ideas
Sometimes the weather isn’t cooperating or you just need a more restful schedule. Some calming ideas include a family brunch (no competition here), a lazy afternoon movie marathon, or a no-phone evening together.
Let Go of Perfection
Your kids don’t need a Pinterest-perfect house or a jam-packed activity list. They just need YOU—fully present, fully engaged, fully loving them. Put down the phone, let go of the to-do list, and soak in these moments. As they say, the days are long but the years go fast. I get that now that I am on the end of that kids living at home journey. (My youngest is a senior in high school). We still do family days and family dinners even with 2 adult kids! So see, if you make it a habit, it can stick!
At the end of the day, time spent together is never wasted. Your family is your first ministry, and every little moment you invest in them matters more than you know.
So tell me—what’s your favorite way to spend quality time as a family? Drop a comment below! 👇
Amber has a BA in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Human Resources. She spent 9 years working in youth and multi-generational ministry where she focused on making faith fun. Her book, The Beginner’s Guide to God, guides people who want to know God and have a deeper relationship. She is the author of the blog AuburnRaven – Balancing Faith, Family & Fun. She has a passion for introducing people to God’s love and biblically equipping parents and teachers so children can grow in faith. Her journey, tips and lessons can be found on her blog www.AuburnRaven.com. You can connect with her on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
