Changing dirty diapers can be a drab, with life as a new parent–while rewarding in many ways– starting to feel monotonous. Days typically cycle–and repeat–around feeding, napping and pooping. And while they all help the little grom to grow, stoke nowadays comes in the form of a soundly sleeping babe.
So how do you rediscover the kind of stoke that lives beyond the baby bubble? That feeling of seeing an empty line-up or waves firing at your favorite break are what fueled your life before baby. It still exists. You just have to find it! Here's how:
1- Spend lots of time at the beach.
Get to the beach as often as possible. Start with shorter trips, like in the early morning or late afternoon. The sun's nicer, and the conditions are calmer. Knowing that it'll be a quick excursion alleviates the stress of packing the beach bag. Forget the wagon, tent and bulky beach chairs; downsize to the essentials instead (sunscreen, food, diapers, towels).
And whether it's for a quick surf or a mellow beach walk, just being near the ocean works wonders on a sleep-deprived parent; not to mention, on a fussy baby, too. It's the best way for the whole family to reset. Plus, sandy toes and fresh ocean air not only peaks the little ones' senses but also get them familiar with the ocean lifestyle they've been born into.
2- Make surfing part of the routine.
Eventually longer beach days become the norm, and packing the beach bag gets easier. In fact, everything's just a little easier after all that practice making short trips to the beach. Squeezing surfing into a family beach day feels almost effortless now. And with things at home also getting easier (hopefully), sneaking out for a siesta-time surf fits right into the routine.
3- Master the surf swap.
It's like taking turns changing dirty diapers–except a lot less smellier. Couples who trade off to surf quickly master this tag-team effort. One partner stays on the beach with baby, while the other paddles out for a few waves. The sessions might not be as long, but they can still be epic. Make the most of every ride. Catch them to the very inside or put extra power into turns; do whatever it takes to maximize play time in the water.
4- Go on more surf dates.
Forget dinner and a movie. Going on surf dates allows for quality and meaningful time together. The couple bonds over experiencing some of their rawest, and most celebrated, moments. There are also tons of lessons from the ocean that can translate into a relationship on land, like compromise and patience.
But unlike dinner and movie dates, surf dates also allow time for the individual. Nothing says self-care like a two-hour sesh of uninterrupted surfing. It might be one of the few occasions you actually splurge on a sitter. Surf dates are so worth it.
5- Mind surf from the couch.
When there's no chance of a date, or the waves are flat, watch a few surf flicks instead. Pro surfers and ocean mags release fun (and free) shorts all the time. YouTube has cool videos produced by everyday surfers, while Amazon Prime offers a wide selection of classic ocean documentaries. For added romance, or simple nostalgia, search for videos of places visited together before baby. Now there's some incentive to go back.
6- Get your grom on a board.
Lastly, there's nothing better than passing on the surf stoke to future generations. Get your grom on a board at a young age, even if it's just paddling around along the shore.
Eventually, they'll be comfortable enough to tandem surf. If baby's too young, then it's something to look forward to in the near future.
At some point, the giggles will be heard while gliding down a wave, and that'll be enough to fuel not only every session but every day that follows as well.
Comments