It’s very common for parents to feel like they have lost their sense of self. When you have kids, they take up every minute of your time and everything that you do is for them. That’s the way that it should be, but it is also important that you don’t lose a sense of who you are, and you still pursue your own goals. A lot of parents also find that they are a bit lost once their kids get older and they move out because their whole identity has been taken up by being a parent. It’s a tough transition, but if you make an effort to do things for yourself, even after you have kids, it will be a lot easier. This is where a parent bucket list comes in.
Starting a parent bucket list is a great idea for parents and even though a lot of the entries on that list will be things that you want to do with the kids, you should also add some entries just for you. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few great ideas.
The Parent Bucket List: Do Something Creative
A lot of parents find that their hobbies fall by the wayside when they have kids. Things like writing or painting are hard to do when you have a family to look after, but you should try to find the time. You can add things like finishing a book or completing a series of paintings to your bucket list. You don’t need to set a strict time limit on it, and having it on your bucket list will encourage you to keep working at it. Doing something creative is a great way to destress yourself as a parent, so this is a great one to add to your bucket list.
Beat A Physical Goal
Physical goals are always a great addition to your parent bucket list because they encourage you to stay active and you will get a huge sense of achievement when you beat them. For example, if you like running, you could work your way up to a marathon. If you’ve always wanted to climb a mountain, how about a trek up Kilimanjaro? Setting yourself these physical challenges will give you a personal goal to work towards and encourage you to stay active, and it is something that you do for yourself, so it’s a big confidence booster.
Parent Bucket List: Visit Your Dream Destinations
When you have kids, most of your holidays are planned around them. You have to think about places that they will enjoy and find kid-friendly activities for them. This is important because travelling as a family is a great way to make memories together but parents do sometimes miss out on going to the places that they want to go because the kids won’t enjoy it. But as they start to get older, you should try to plan trips to places that you want to go as well, so you don’t feel like you are missing out.
As a parent, your kids always come first and that’s the way that it should be. Having your own parent bucket list can help you to retain your own identity as individuals rather than “just” as Mum or Dad. We make sure we set aside time just for us as a couple but need a bucket list because sometimes (often) this time can be a Netflix binge-watch and nothing else. What would be on your bucket list?
