Two Recommendations

Recommendation for family fun:

1) Borrow, rent, or  buy a motorhome, or campervan.

When the kids were growing up, I would complain to my husband that I felt really  conflicted between going out and staying home. On the one hand, I very much wanted to go out, because hours with small children can make a person crazy, and on the other hand, going out involved so much in the way of preparation, that it really seemed too overwhelming to actually produce a fun day.

As a for instance, when the kids were potty training, I would often be overwhelmed with anxiety. I'd have to pack so many things in case of accidents, and then exert so much worry in case of accidents, that getting out of the house just seemed like it might not be worth it after all.

Then came the idea of camping. Taking our whole home with us. This really was the ticket when it all came down to it. And as I have seen many families of all abilities, of all sizes, of all ages, enjoying camping, I see it as a real solution to making getting out and having fun possible at the same time. Especially when you camp right on the beach. Camp overnight at friends' homes.

2) Get an Instant Pot.

Instant Pots were all the rage one Christmas a few years ago. No matter what website I was on, there it was, trending as the #1 gift idea. So, I succumbed. Didn't really know what to do with it though, so we kind of let it sit unused for awhile. Then this summer came along, and we were too hot to cook, and we didn't really think going out to eat was feasible. So I learned why Instant Pots are great. You can put any meat in it, with a cup any kind of watery sauce (not creamy sauce), program it to cook for 25 minutes, and you will have great food without effort and without heat, in less than 1/2 hour.

We have used store bought BBQ sauce to make pulled pork, and all different varities of premade and homemade sauces to make chicken mole, puerto rican pork and eggplant stew, chile verde, chicken curry, and chili, and taken it right out to the patio to eat in practically the same amount of time that it takes to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.