Tips to celebrate festivals with your kids when you have no time

If you are one of those parents for whom time is a precious commodity, then festivals bring more heartburn as your kids expect you to do something extra or special for the occasion. As a parent, the guilt quotient is very high when you can’t make the occasion memorable. The festival season has already started. If you want to spend that quality time with your kids during the ongoing Ganesh festival, take into account the following suggestions:
Plan your day in advance Mark your calendar with the dates of the festival and plan your day accordingly.Postpone your important meetings for another day as meetings tend to get stretched, tossing your entire schedule for that day.
Ask for help You can also ask your office colleague or your junior to chip in for you for the special day. That way you don’t have to worry about your work getting affected. You can return the favour on other occasions.
Decide the activities chart Plan exactly what you are going to do with your kids as per their liking, beforehand, so that you can make arrangements in advance. If you are planning pandal hopping for the Ganesh festival, get details like addresses, routes and darshan timings well in advance to make the experience a hassle-free one.
Try and celebrate the festival in your own way Even if it is not possible to follow the traditional way of celebrating the festival, you can give it a twist to suit your schedule. If you haven’t been able to get the Ganesh idol home, you can decorate the area around the idols already at home. It will add that festive feeling to the house.
Pre Book the delights Obviously, you have no time to spare in the kitchen to make that special festive food for your kids. There are dedicated portals that will help you get traditional fare at your doorstep. Your kids should not be kept away from their favourite delicious modaks or ladoos. Certain online sites will also help you get a decent discount on dinner bookings for your family during the special festive occasion.
Participate in the community celebrations If you cannot take time out for any of the festive activities, then try and be part of your housing society’s celebrations. During the Ganesh festival, there are a lot of activities planned at the community level. Encourage your children to participate in them. Help your kids in the preparation for the activities they wish to participate in, like singing, drawing or fancy dress.
Remember, everybody wants a happy childhoods full of fun memories and as parents, you owe it to your kids.