A great number of families in the territory are living in apartments, which means that they have a financial obligation to pay rent each month, or risk eviction if they default on their payments. In addition to rent, food is a top priority.
Last Christmas, I was shocked to see the price of eggs in the supermarket. It was close to $10. Can you imagine? A few other customers claimed that they had been supermarket hopping but discovered that the prices were the same everywhere. I guess high prices are the new normal. Who can afford to buy anything these days?
As a mother of four children, I get frustrated at times. Not with my children, of course, even though I think they want to ‘eat the house’, but with the fact that it is hard for me to spoil them a little. Each one of them has needs which, sometimes when we are at the supermarket, they strongly express. “Mommy, can I have this? Mommy, can I have that?” The look that they receive from me is enough to cause them to put back all the items they’ve picked up from the shelves. This is a harsh reality.
I’m not alone in this frustration. A while back, another mother shared her frustrations with me. She said, “My heart aches when I can’t provide the things that my children need, but one day I will.” Unfortunately, not all goals come to fruition.
Sometimes, I can’t help but wish that things were a little different for us. I wish for the day when I can go shopping with my kids at any supermarket or department store and wouldn’t need to keep my eyes glued to the monitor to see if I am over budget. Also, I wish for the day when I can afford to take my family to a fancy restaurant somewhere across the sea, like Scrub Island, Saba Rock, etc., and wouldn’t have to calculate the cost before placing my order.
Family vacations! Ooh! Just the thought brings a huge smile across my face like the warm sunlight that illuminates the sky. Kids love these moments, too. Family vacations help them to recuperate after dealing with the stresses of school life. Visiting places and having new experiences help our kids and give them something to share with their friends.
I am certain that there are many parents, mothers in particular, who have a strong desire to visit different places with their families, and some can make this a reality. But, others can’t afford this luxury due to budget constraints coupled with the high cost of living. However, if these are the only reasons why families are not out and about, I would recommend visiting cost-effective places like the beach or the park where you can cultivate a closer bond with your family against a backdrop of shared memories. But, financial concerns are not the only reasons families are not enjoying the outdoors; today, parents are more time-poor than ever.
Some parents are so continually busy that they hardly find time to unwind in an outdoor setting with their families. With so much to do, like laundry, cleaning, and running errands, it’s understandable (especially if you’re the only adult in your household or the sole breadwinner) if you are unwilling to put aside these things to accommodate outdoor activities with your family. After all, oftentimes, the responsibility of ‘being both father and mother’ falls on you.
For me personally, I could find the time to go to the beach with my children, away from the four corners of our walls and unplug from our devices, but I choose to be an introvert at the cost of their joy. Sometimes, my children would beg me to go to the beach or the park. Although I’m aware that going to the beach would cost me nothing but time, I would still treat it like an added cost on my grocery bill. So, my normal response to my children would be a ‘fawning’ excuse like, “I have a lot of things to do. Not today, maybe next week.” I’m always giving them false hope to keep them from bothering me, but deep down inside, I have no intention of going to the beach any time soon. Can you relate?
As parents, we overlook these priceless opportunities because we are too busy planning for the ones with a huge price tag, but most children don’t care for the latter, they just want to enjoy the outdoors. Studies show that outdoor experiences teach children to appreciate nature and are crucial for their growth and development.
So, from a mother who has learned what it means to embrace and cherish each moment of her life and is taking a little time from her busy schedule to enjoy nature with her family (even if it’s just a drive to Cane Garden Bay or Frenchman’s Cay), here’s some advice: live a little!
Being out and about with your family can be a low-cost and rewarding experience!
