Negotiate Fridays off in lieu of a raise
I know this isn't available to everyone, but please let me open your Overton window to the idea of asking for one day off a week in lieu of a raise. I'm not talking about cramming 40 hours into 4 days, just... Fridays off. After 8 years at my company I negotiated this, and it's been life giving/changing/affirming. I've met up with friends, garden, read, knit and spent the day cooking for a dinner party. I plan on solo trips to the pool and the beach this summer. I plan to grab a coffee and hit a morning movie. I've volunteered at my kids school. And no surprise to anyone... the work still gets done in 4 days.
Being a "dining room table" house
An accompaniment to @Sarah Cooney's galley kitchen rec, we are a "dining room table" house. Everything happens at the table - meals, parties, art, games, puzzles. When we reno'd the kitchen we didn't put in an island/bar seating because life happens at the table! Link to our actual table which I am still obsessed with 8 years in (made here in Chicago). Get the biggest table you can comfortably fit!
Belting it out in the car as your family culture
One of the best parts of being a parent is setting the culture. You decide what's normal! Your kids don't know any different! And in our house, we sing out loud in the car. It's so freeing! Let them see you be free!! Here's a playlist of songs that are at the center of this venn diagram: Mostly from the early aughts, for which the lyrics live at the depth of my lizard brain. If you are also 39 years old, this might be for you. Must be singable bops (nothing too weird the kids will complain) Screened for language and content (mostly lol doing my best) (kids are 6 and 9)
Talking Points Dinner Club (TM)
Talking Points Dinner Club (TPDC) is a group that has gotten dinner monthly for 14 years. The trick for it's long lasting success is the structure: everyone brings their talking points for discussion from the last month - victories, losses, recommendations, advice requests. Everyone gets a turn to go through all of their talking points for group discussion and then passes the figurative mic. always on the calendar, second Friday of the month. (Linked to one of our regular spots)
