Taking time off work to hang out with my kids during the school holidays

Image credit:

Ben Guernsey

The plan for the week

Every school holidays I take at least a week off to spend with my daughter Molly. The Sunday before, we sit down together and come up with as many ideas as we can, then check them off as we go. It’s a great way to reconnect and step away from the screen for a bit.

What we got through

1. Watch all the Star Wars movies 🎬
2. Go to the Rip Curl store 🏄
3. Shopping 🛒
4. McDonalds 🍟
5. Ride scooters 🛴
6. Have a dance party 🎉
7. Go to a cafe ☕
8. Clean the car 🚗
9. Get ears pierced 👂
10. Go to lunch with Mum 💃
11. Play Guess Who 👑
12. Paint nails 💅
13. Lightsabre fight 🤺
14. Play at the park 🌈
15. Skype with family and friends 🖥
16. Hike up Mount Kaukau ⛰
17. Buy a laptop case 💻
18. Make jelly 🐙
19. Make lemonade 🍋
20. Cook dinner for the family 🍕
21. Cluedo 💀
22. Reading 📖
23. Haircut 💇🏼
24. Sushi 🍣
25. Beach walk 🏖
26. Hang out with cousins 😀
27. Soccer ⚽
28. Kiwi bounce (trampoline park) 🥝

Parenting hack

Since 2015, I’ve been using my favourite parenting hack. Send the kids to school while Ali and I take the day off work to hang out. Gym, surfing, brunch, then pick the kids up after school for mango gelatos at the beach, followed by Thai food and Oreo cheesecake 🔥