You know what happened? I blinked, and suddenly, I’m staring at October and wondering where the last days of summer, the first day of school, and free time on my schedule went. For most of us, as the pages on the calendar change, we have new responsibilities. Same as our nieces and nephews who might be headed back to school this autumn, work schedules seem to increase, as the days start to get colder.

In an instant, the thoughts of taking my favorite loved ones to the beach or amusement park has vanished. Now, I’m focusing on making time on weekends to spend with my nieces and nephews. Maybe there’s still time for apple picking or even Halloween festivities (that’s a cool uncling activity), but now is when exerting a little time management can pay dividends in how much you get to see these family members.

For me – and everyone is different – my fall pastimes include watching football, shopping for books and clothes (nesting), and going out to eat. All three of these can be done with nieces and nephews; you just have to manage your expectations...and theirs. Here’s a quick look at just one: football.

Watching football is different with kids. In many cases, you’ll be talking a lot more than you’re used to. You’ll likely have to explain a lot of rules, and you’ll definitely need to focus on your nieces and nephews more than the game. My recommendations if you’re thinking about introducing football as a fun activity are...

- Try out football on TV before going to an actual game. You’ll be able to leave the game if they get bored, and you won’t have as much of an investment than if you went to a stadium.

- If you do go to a live game, try out high-school or college football first. Tickets are often less expensive than NFL games, and the logistics of getting young kids and yourself in and out of a local stadium are easier than they would be at a pro arena.

- Watch a game you don’t fully care about. While it’s great to show your loved ones your team pride, the emotions fans go through when a team loses or wins can affect their attitude. Remember, this is special time to spend with nieces and nephews. Put your team game on DVR for later.

These pointers carry through for any fall sport. If loved ones like soccer or lacrosse, then incorporate those sports into your getaway time together. The point of all of this is to continue to spend time with family even when schedules get tight. Managed correctly, you’ll have a great fall, spending time with nieces and nephews and strengthening your uncling bond.

Photo: photostock
Published: September 24, 2012