Weekend Getaway: Spending More Time Together as a Family (But it Doesn't have to be Costly!)

Do you like to predict the unpredictable? Or do you like to emerge yourself on an island living wherein beach partying is so common during the weekend? Or if not, you simply want to savour the beauty of nature?

When I first came to Seychelles I have observed how the weather changed so fast.

One time we left our place with a very good sunny morning on a weekend to check for fresh organic products on the other side of Mahe, surprised that when we reached the place, we were greeted with rain instead.

The weather here is a great factor to enjoy outdoor!

• Chillin at the Beach in the early morning on a Saturday in Mahe (It was cloudy, rainy and sunny all at once in a span of an hour and half)

"Beach parties” are part of the Seychelloise's lifestyle and leisure! You could witness that the main shops in town are closed because people are already heading towards the shoreline spending family time on the beach. I have described it as the “Ghost Town Effect” on a weekend basis and if you're new here taking in comparison perhaps to how your weekend back in your country, Seychelles is the exact opposite! It took me 6 months to adjust!

I called it their sacred weekend get-together with friends and families drinking on the side of the beach adjacent to the road with their favorite SeyBrew. 

It was very casual to see people parked their cars on the side of the road at a nearby shoreline with their loud music accompanied by their drinking buddies.

Beach culture as a way to enjoy an island living is a relaxing way rather than spending so much time at the mall wherein you will be tempted to buy items you don't truly need, so in a way or another, I preferred chillin at the beach! It doesn't have to be an expensive family date!

However on the other side of it...

If you dreamt of a solemn beach moment on a weekend as I do, it was best to go in the early hours.

We checked for a good parking area and took the spot further to Au Cap where it’s 10 minute- drive from where we were staying in Anse Aux Pins.

Sage on the other hand was a bit hesitant to take a dip because the weather was not that good as it was cloudy followed by rain for about 20 minutes. The sun had shown up thereafter so we still managed to enjoy for a while.

Here's the catch!

I told my husband that cloudy day was the best time to go to the beach in my country because Filipinos, in general, have always had a penchant for fair skin hence putting all the sunscreen cream before swimming must be done, funny as it may sound but when I lived here in Seychelles, I realized it is nicer to see my sunkissed-tan skin.

I felt and looked healthier! I couldn't be more grateful to achieve my real tan!

On the other hand...

Sage started to enjoy the water, splashing here and everywhere as I was just dipping myself enjoying the calmness of the ocean.

While Patrick took his time making boats out of the coconut leaves, let it sunk so that Sage would come after it, and giggled to his heart’s content. It was a blast for the three of us. We felt more connected to one another, enjoying the water and closed to nature as well.

It's more of a sanctuary for me!

• Family Walks at Roche Caiman on a Sunday Afternoon!

Such a nature's haven indeed when you can have an afternoon walk at Roche Caiman, a nature's park here in Mahe whereby people were doing their exercise and others were playing their favorite sports.

Usually, on a Sunday afternoon around 4 pm, we would bring our baby out for a road trip but at this juncture, we decided to hang around at Roche Caiman. Sage loved running on the grass, enjoyed the freedom of being out in the afternoon where the sun was not too hot. 

We started walking from the swimming pool area going towards the fitness trail. Along the way was the calmness of the ocean-facing Eden Island where you could see the boats rented by the tourists for an island-hopping with loud music on. 

 What a good and relaxing way to unwind right? A brisk walk was a good exercise if you were not the kind of person whose into rigid athletic training.

• Does it have to be Costly to go out as a Family?

I have to share this in a way that some of the families I have encountered here in Seychelles compensated material things in exchange for authentic family time together.

One of my students shared that on a weekend basis before the pandemic they usually booked a trip bound for Abu Dhabi, spent a relaxing time in a five-star hotel, went around shopping in the malls, and gone home exhausted. Her mom and dad bought her expensive things but told me that she still felt like her parents do not care for her wellbeing because during the weekdays, they're both late from work and she's under the supervision of her grandma if not her nanny. 

Materially well off but emotionally, she felt so neglected. I have heard this many times yet when a student confessed out of the blue, there was never a doubt that the most valuable thing we could give to our loved ones is our TIME, so the question is how do you spend time together?

**Sage knew how to steal my time despite how busy I am at work online/offline, and he's just as stubborn as me when he wanted something. He's very strategic as he would grasped my wrist and won't stop until I would go with him, saying his firm statement of "mommy come, show you!". He doesn't care whether I'm busy as long as he wanted me to come along with him to wherever he wished to go!

• What's the Rationale?

There were times that we don't hang out as a family of three because we were so grounded with work that we failed to see the beauty outside the comfort of our home. It is very crucial to spend real QUALITY time with your family especially that you have a new member who would be looking up to how your baby is being taken care of.

For parents who were so caught up with daily routines, it's best to go out together, likewise it doesn't have to be costly because apart from the thought that it's FREE, most of the time when we were with our loved ones, it's the presence of each one which was more important.

Questions:

1. When was the last time you went out together as a family? 

2. Does going out on a date with your kid (s) nurture your relationship? Is it necessary to go out on a weekend basis? does it have to be costly? 

   Some kids love the material things that their parents gave them and I have seen the effect of it on the child. Giving them everything they wanted when they're out shopping and throwing tantrums if not granted with what they wanted was not a good emotional quotient. What's your view?

3. If there's a thing that you would like to bargain just to be with your loved ones, what would it be and why?

• images used in this post are mine edited on Canva and Incollage

• Let us stay connected via cointr.ee

#ShoutOut to my sponsors for their quality posts and generosity!

Let's support Bitworkerss

if we can print our money, the better for the economy!