When I thought of this blog’s topic about “how to create a happy home where your kids love t be at”, it felt a little silly at first thought.
My kids love being at home. They are content with the simple. They are happy with the slow days and often uneventful, family life.
This is life as we know it. It’s what comes natural and easy. And it’s a lifestyle that we all love and thrive in.
But as I started to really think about it, I realize that this is NOT the norm.
Most kids and families DO NOT live this way. In fact, I’d venture to say that we are in a very small minority that keeps to themselves and finds comfort and immense JOY just being at home with each other.
Upon entering the 2020 pandemic, this is when I truly started to witness the struggles that the kids in our society face. I finally realized that a lot of kids cannot find joy and tranquility within the walls of their own home. That they desire and crave entertainment in other places away from one of life’s most greatest treasures: home.
I believe home is where joy, contentment, and purpose should come from. A place of comfort, security, and enrichment.
Home should be our children’s safe zone from the world and where they discover their purpose, passions, and strengths.
And creating a home where our children crave to be is really quite simple. But, it does go against the grain of the modern standards and lifestyle.
It’s not the fashionable choice. It’s not the glamorous, exciting way of parenting. And it’s certainly not going to gain you a lot of popularity among your own peers.
However, does creating a healthy, happy home really need approval of our society?
As a parent, do you REALLY need to live up to modern standards? Do you need to keep up with the Jones’ for the sake of “not feeling left out”? Do you really give two poop sticks about what is sought-after and what is not?
Personally, I could care less about what others think about my parenting choices. As long as my kids are healthy, happy, and helpful to society, should the perceptions of others even matter?!
As I watch the world around me shift and slowly form into a pile of stink, my own reality has become this: I could care less about what my society thinks about myself and the way I choose to live. I care more about instilling strong family values & moral character traits that my kids can mold themselves from to become better people. Better people who WILL change the world.
And that all starts at home.
But, what does that have to do with creating a home that our kids love and wish to be at?
Well, I am glad you asked because it has EVERYTHING to do with it.
Because this isn’t just a checklist of things you need to do in order for your kids to love being at home. This is a lifestyle. It’s a decision. It requires discipline and dedication to pursue.
But, if you are committed to raising happy kids, morally sound kids, and a tight-knit, wholesome family, then buckle in and let’s get to it.
Creating a home where you and your kids love being at is quite simple – let me show you how.
First things first, we need to talk about the elephant in the room, and that’s your kid’s character.
If you want them to truly enjoy and appreciate your home, then they need to have good character!
Simple, right?
Yes, simple, but not always easy. Okay, it’s rarely ever easy. Teaching kids good character is a HARD job and it’s one that never ends or gets that much easier, but it’s worth every single effort.
When you teach your kids things like patience, gratitude, and being humble, how do you think that will translate into your home life?
I will tell you from experience (my own experience so far).
They will start to have more patience about not having to be at “all the places.” It will show them how to be grateful for what they have at home (comfort, peace, security, love). It will teach them the ways of being humble as they will have no need for being flashy, showing off to others, and working to impress their peers.
Basically, if you teach (and show) your kids how to be grateful for even the most simple things in their life, then they will start to display that in your home.
READ NEXT: The MOST important character traits to teach your kids
I know that I said that attaining a happy home isn’t simply a checklist, but more so a lifestyle commitment, however, there is one major thing that needs to be addressed here.
Stop spoiling your kids.
I know you love them. I know you want the best for them. I know that you believe they are special & can change the world.
I know because I feel the same way about my kids too.
I want them to have a great life. I want them to be happy. I want them to find enjoyment & enrichment in their short-lived childhood. Of course I want these things for my kids!
But what I want them to have more than anything else is to become kind, giving, spirited human beings. And the last time I checked, giving them all the material possessions that THEY WANT wasn’t the way to achieve that.
This goes for toys.
Sports.
Activities.
Entertainment.
TV & games.
Food outings.
Trips.
Apparel.
THINGS.
Things only distract us from the most important aspects of life: love & family. And isn’t that the goal of creating a home that our kids love to be at? To be a tight-knit, close family?
If you want to have a close relationship with your kids and for them to display real affection back, then living a lifestyle complete opposite to society standards is how you will attain it.
READ NEXT: Want to have a tight-knit family? Do these 5 things
Of course, this is merely an opinion from a Mom who goes against the grain of society standards.
So you can take it with a grain of salt if you so choose.
This is coming from a happy wife with a great relationship with her husband. A joyful Mom who chooses fulfillment by raising her kids from home. A somewhat of a hermit who says no to things and activities that overwhelm and/or disrupt the family unit.
And before you start to think it, I am not blowing smoke up your behind.
I just work VERY hard for these simple, life pleasures of love and happiness because that’s really the bulk of what I value in life.
Hard work, commitment, love, and joy.
Having these kinds of relationships, lifestyle, and attachments is totally possible. You just need to go back to the drawing board and keep things SIMPLE.
Living a simple life is living a happy life.
And so does home life. Keep it simple and it will take you far. Make it complicated and it will become overwhelming and unpleasant.
Create boundaries. Establish house rules. Bring back family activities and clean up times. Become ONE & use that unity to become strong, connected, and on the same page to create a home that you and your children LOVE to be at.
Nurture their interests and dive into their passions within your safe place (your home).
If you can find a way to nurture their interests and captivate their excitement, then creating a home that your kids love to be at will be all too easy.
Here’s a few ideas to get you started:
– Start a book club where your kids can earn prizes or achievements by finishing certain books. You could turn it into something educational and include a book study or discussion as you move along with it together.
– Work on a family puzzle. This is a slow-paced, but exciting way to include the whole family into one activity.
– Create consistency in the home by establishing a weekly schedule. If your kids know what to expect certain days of the week, they will be more prone to become excited for the days ahead. This can include weekly meal plans, activities, games, and family rituals.
– Listen to podcasts or music together. Some of my favorite times have been spent listening to music that we all love, dancing, and just being silly.
– Move your bodies. This can be as simple as taking family walks around the block or as extreme as planning a family track & field day. Either way, you will be together releasing endorphins that will have a positive effect on everyone involved.
– Bake or cook together. If your kids are still too little to help out, try planning some new & fun recipes for them to try. In addition to this, we like to try out different foods from all over the world. Each month we get a new YUM box delivered for us to try out different snack from countries all over the world and it’s been a HUGE hit with all of the kids. Try it out & save $5 on your fist Yum Yum box here!
Basically, just bring back simplicity, love, and fun to your home and it will surely be a hit with your kids. A place where they truly come alive and live to be at.
Home is the first place where we can establish security & confidence in our kids, so use their talents and interests to your advantage and you will surely create a happy home.