Some Saturdays begin slowly. You wake up already tired, even though the day hasn’t started. The kids are ready to run. You are still trying to remember where you left your coffee cup.
As a mum of a 10 year old boy and a 6 year old girl, these moments are familiar. The overwhelm, the noise, the pressure to be present. Motherhood is incredible. It is also exhausting.
Last summer, on a warm Saturday here in Sydney, my son burst into the kitchen holding a Nerf blaster. My daughter followed with fairy wings and a glittery smile. They asked the question I usually avoid. Can we do a Nerf War today?
I wanted to say no. I wanted a quiet day. But I also saw something in their eyes. Excitement, connection, imagination. These things matter. So I said yes. And that yes turned into one of the best parenting decisions I have made in a long time.
We turned our backyard into a Nerf battlefield. Cardboard boxes, pool noodles, chalk lines. My son designed the missions. My daughter decorated the base. Kids from next door joined us. One child who is on the spectrum volunteered to be the “strategy captain”. He loved being in control of the map, timing rounds, and guiding the team. It reminded me that kids do not all need the same role. They just need a role that lets them shine.
As the game unfolded, something shifted. The kids were laughing, cooperating, planning, problem solving. My son slowed down to help his sister reload her darts. My daughter created a system for collecting used darts and organising them into “energy piles”. The child on the spectrum stayed engaged for the entire hour because the structure was predictable, the instructions were clear, and the sensory environment was manageable.
Motherhood is full of moments that feel routine. But sometimes, you see the pieces click. Kids learn social skills through play. They develop resilience through trial and error. They build leadership and empathy through teamwork. That Saturday was a reminder that children learn best when we give them space to explore and get messy.
It was also a reminder that mums are always balancing. We want rest, but we want our kids to thrive. We want quiet, but we want memories. I felt tired, but I also felt proud. Parenting is not easy. But moments like this are worth the effort.
If you want help hosting battles, Funtime Kids Parties offers Nerf and Water Wars across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Canberra. They provide goggles, hosts, and clean up. This is a gift for mums who need a break, here’s mum trick blog posted on their website.
When the day ended, my son hugged me and said it was the best day ever. My daughter smiled and asked if we can do it again next week. I realized that being present in these little adventures is not just about fun. It is about shaping who our kids become. Confident. Connected. Loved.
