We’ve spent years planning weekends around cricket matches, birthday parties, and school events. Now the boys aren’t little anymore, so we want to make this year about trying new things together. Nothing huge. Just simple moments that feel like us again — without needing to check who needs picking up when.

These are a few ideas that feel fun. Easy to say yes to. And maybe even things we’ll keep doing long after the novelty wears off.

Try Padel Together

Padel keeps popping up everywhere — and every time someone mentions it, we both say, “We should give that a go.” It looks like the perfect beginner-friendly sport. A bit like tennis, but easier to keep the rally going, and definitely less pressure to be good right away.

Most clubs seem to offer one-off court bookings, so we’re planning to just pick a morning and try it out rather than overthinking it. If we enjoy it — and I have a feeling we will — we’ll probably want proper padel shoes so we’re not slipping about. It’s the kind of active date idea that doesn’t feel like exercise… even though it definitely is.

A little friendly competition never hurts.

Make Weekend Hikes a Habit

There’s something so refreshing about choosing a walk because we fancy it — not because it’s close to a playground or guaranteed to have ice cream halfway through. We’ve been eyeing a few new trails within a short drive, ones with enough views to make the effort worth it.

It’s the slower pace we’re excited about. Time to chat without distractions. A coffee stop at the end if we feel like it. And if we keep this up (which I hope we do), then supportive walking boots will be a must — my old pair has definitely seen better days.

Fresh air, a bit of movement, and a nice pub at the end. Win-win.

Cooking Something New (and actually enjoying it)

Weeknight dinners are all about speed and convenience. But cooking when there’s no rush? That could be fun again. Maybe we pick a theme each month — Italian, Mexican, something we’ve never tried before — and spend an evening making something new from scratch.

Music on, phones away, and a nice meal at the end of it. And if it all goes wrong, there’s always pizza. No pressure. Just the two of us doing something that’s not on autopilot.

Swimming as a Regular Reset

We used to go swimming more often, and it always felt good. So why did we stop? Probably the same reason most parents do — too many other things got in the way.

We’re thinking of picking one evening every couple of weeks to head to the pool. It’s low-pressure, easy to fit in, and a nice reminder that moving our bodies doesn’t have to be a chore. Plus, you always feel better walking out than you did walking in. That has to count for something.

Say Yes to Local Exhibitions and Shows

We constantly spot things happening locally — a small theatre production, a photography exhibition, a comedy show — then immediately forget because life moves on. This year, we want to actually go. Even if we only pick a handful of events, it’s still more than the “none” we managed last year.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just something different. Something that breaks the cycle of doing the exact same thing every weekend. And who knows — we might discover a new favourite.

Having more time as the boys grow feels like a big change. But it also feels exciting. A little space to try new things together. To laugh more. To look forward to weekends again.

Here’s to a year of “why not?”

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