Mom Guilt & Fall Fun: Finding the Balance

If you’re a mom, you probably know the feeling, mom guilt. It sneaks in when you plan too many fun activities without your kids, or back-to-back weekends away with friends. I love having a social life, but it’s hard not to feel guilty leaving my kids with grandparents, especially because they’re only little for so long and they still think I’m the center of their world.

The truth is, finding balance is tricky. You want to fill your own cup and have fun as an adult, but you also want to soak up all those sweet, fleeting moments with your kids. This fall, I’m working on embracing both. Here are three fun activities to do without your kids, and three to do with them. You can enjoy the best of both worlds without all the guilt.

🍷 3 Fall Things to Do Without Kids

1. Dinner & a Stroll

Treat yourself to a nice dinner where you can take your time, no kids’ menus, no rushing out before bedtime. If you’re feeling adventurous, make it an early dinner followed by a movie. Bonus points if the restaurant and theater are within walking distance so you can enjoy that date-night stroll.

2. Wine Tasting with Friends

Fall is the perfect season for wine. If you’re in the Midwest, western Michigan (hello, New Buffalo!) makes for a great weekend trip with plenty of vineyards to explore. Don’t want to travel? Check your local suburbs for Wine Walks, where you sip your way through small businesses, it’s cozy, fun, and perfectly autumnal.

3. Topgolf or Putt Shack

These spots are such a vibe right now. They mix games, food, and drinks with just the right amount of competition. It’s the kind of activity that feels lighthearted but still gives you the “night out” experience.

🎃 3 Fall Things to Do With Kids

1. Fall Festival or Pumpkin Patch

Nothing screams fall like hayrides, apple cider, and picking out the perfect pumpkin. Most suburbs have plenty of farms and patches, it’s a kid favorite and a mom’s photo-op dream.

2. Movie in the Park

Bundle up, grab some blankets, and catch a kid-friendly spooky movie under the stars. Some cities even still have drive-in theaters, and in October, you might find trunk-or-treat nights that make it even more festive.

3. Boo at the Zoo

Lots of zoos transform into Halloween wonderlands in September and October. From costumes to candy to glowing jack-o’-lantern displays, it’s the perfect seasonal outing that’s fun for kids and adults alike.

Finding Your Balance

At the end of the day, mom guilt is real, but so is the need for balance. Giving yourself space to enjoy adult only fun doesn’t make you a bad mom. Spending time at fall festivals or Boo at the Zoo doesn’t mean you’re missing out on adult life. Both can exist together.

So, plan the wine tasting and the pumpkin patch. Go to Topgolf and the zoo. Your kids will thrive seeing you happy, and you’ll soak up the best of both worlds this fall.