How to Have Fun with Your Kids in the Middle of the Daily Juggle?

Before becoming a mum, what did you imagine motherhood would be like? Tickles and giggles with your child, warm cuddles, playful walks in nature, maybe sharing one of your passions with them? A multitude of simple moments that fill your heart with joy…

But somehow, those moments often get lost in the day-to-day. The rush to get everyone ready for school, prepping dinner, managing bath time. The nagging, the meltdowns, the endless reminders about screen-time limits… Having fun as a family is not as easy as it seems!

Many mums have confided in me that they simply don’t have time for fun on weekdays. This blog discusses why making room for those moments can be tricky, and proposes some mindset shifts to ensure that, when you look back on your children’s growing up years, you’ll see a mosaic of heartwarming memories.

1. Accepting what is

We often hold a preconceived idea of what a happy family should look like, and when reality doesn’t match that picture, it hurts!

I personally dream of family dinners where everyone shares about their day and we laugh together about the silly things that happened. And sure, sometimes it’s exactly like that. But other times (and I’ll be honest, that’s the majority of times), there are sibling rivalries, complaints about the food, everyone talking over each other, and kids screaming for attention. I have to admit, that’s not quite what I had envisioned! But it’s also the reality of family life. Children can’t be happy all the time.

This might not be the advice you wanted to hear, but sometimes the best thing to do is just “let it go” 🎶 and go with the flow. The more you fight against what’s happening, the bigger your stress response becomes, and the less open you’ll be to connection when the right moment finally comes.

For instance, you might plan to spend time playing legos with your child in the evening, but homework turns into a battle, dinner takes forever, and then you spend 30 minutes arguing about getting into the shower. When they’re finally in their PJs and ready for one-on-one time, it’s already bedtime, and the legos plan goes out the window.

In that situation, when you realise dinner is taking longer than expected, instead of rushing your child to finish their plate, you could turn it into a game or use the opportunity to chat about their day (for some fun conversation prompts and other playful ideas to connect with your little one, check out the Frogs in Mugs App). Maybe you won’t have time for legos, but you’ll have shared another special moment together.

The key is to stay flexible, to seize the moments as they come instead of holding tightly to how things should be.

2. Managing your energy

You can’t be a fun mum if you’re exhausted and constantly stressed out.

Connection comes from presence, and you simply can’t be present if your mind is racing with worries about everything that needs to be done, or replaying that nasty comment your coworker made today.

When your attention is scattered, you’ll miss your child’s jokes or their cues for playfulness.

I can talk for myself! When I’m preoccupied and worried about running late, I get easily annoyed by my child’s playful tricks. She loves to hide when I tell her to put her socks on, waiting for me to find her and tickle her. This little game only lasts 30 seconds (she’s usually very easy to find!) and adds a dose of laughter to our routine. But if I’m stressed, it turns into me scolding her, and all the fun disappears. And of course, now I have to deal with her disappointment, which ends up taking even more time.

To truly be present with your child, you need to take care of yourself first. (I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true!) Prioritise practices that help you manage stress, like mindfulness, exercise , as well as some leisure time just for yourself (all of these are important!)

It’s not rocket science, the better you feel, the more joyfully you’ll show up. You’ll be more inclined to follow your child’s lead and engage in goofy games if you’ve filled your own cup.

And you’ll have more patience too! You’ll be more attentive to your child, and able to respond to their needs before things escalate. The hours you save from avoided tantrums can now be spent on bonding moments.

3. Be intentional

The last piece of advice I have is about setting your intention.

It’s easy to go through the day on autopilot. We just complete one task after another: get everyone out the door in the morning, be on time for school pick-up, get dinner on the table, get the kids ready for bed… and we forget to squeeze in pockets of fun here and there!

But if you wake up deciding that today you’re going to have fun with your kids, it sets the tone for the day! You might wake them up with their favourite song, make silly jokes, or try a dance move while preparing breakfast… and you’ll already be in a different energy.

Of course, your child might not be in the same energy. Your joyful “good morning!” could be met with a grunt, and that’s okay. This brings us back to the first piece of advice: accepting what is. If your little one is in a grumpy mood, you can adapt and offer comfort and cuddles instead of silly jokes.

Being intentional also means regularly asking yourself what matters most. Do you need to get out the door right now, or can you spend 5 minutes engaging in your child’s silly play? Do you really need to stick to the routine, or can you make an exception to accommodate your child’s spontaneous idea? If they engage in messy play (cooking, crafts, etc.), can you close your eyes to the mess and simply enjoy the moment?

I suggest spending 2 minutes in the morning, and maybe 2 minutes after work (just before going home or picking up the kids), to breathe and remind yourself of your intentions for the day. Just a few minutes to recenter yourself and rechannel your energy toward what you’ve chosen to prioritise.

Final thoughts

Often, we put a lot of effort into planning activities with our kids, hoping for a sensational day out. We expect them to be enthusiastic about our plans, but sometimes they’re not. We take them to the beach and they keep asking when we’ll go home...

Or we might leave work early to spend time with them, and that’s the day they’re in “grumpy pants” mode, refusing to do anything and complain the whole afternoon about how boring everything is.

And yes, it’s hard! But don’t let this discourage you. What matters most is that you are present.

Being present with a cranky child is not really pleasant, nevertheless your bond will be strengthened.

These “less shiny” moments have their own beauty.

These moments when you made space for uncomfortable feelings, they too can form heartwarming memories.

Because these moments tell your children that, no matter how they show up, you will always love them.