How does adventure day sound? When I was a little girl, my father used to take each of the children in our family out of school, (one day out of the year) and randomly spend the day wherever it would take us.  I loved that it was just the two of us and our putz-around attitudes meshing together to make an exciting, yet relaxing day.  We would do things like walk and talk along the railroad tracks (old abandoned ones, he insists on…but I think I remember that they were working ones.)  Maybe the day would include taking a drive to a random off-road store and checking out the differences from the same old run-of-the-mill chain store that is much more convenient, but a lot less interesting.    To walk in the woods, was a nice option and my dad would show me some hunting techniques that he used and also how to find a good deer-hunting spot.  And then we would sit in silence as long as we could last, and listen and keep our eyes open for animals in the woods.  That was always educational    I never hunted, for the record, but I did shoot at some targets a couple of times, and that was great!  Diners were always my dad’s favorite too.  So we would find a unique diner and grab a bite to eat as well. I love these memories.  I love when I don’t need any photographs to remind myself of how much fun I had or how happy I was to be with my dad on my “special day out of school.”  Those memories are truly the strongest. These certain days are a definite emotional refresher, a spirit refresher, and an important building block for our relationships with others. I come up with that opinion only from my experience as a child and now as a mother too.  My daughter and I call this kind of day “adventure day.”  One adventure day has included a look inside at an old beautiful church, St Augustine’s in Lawrenceville, and we lit a prayer candle for someone. We bought some super tasty milkshakes at the Quiet Storm in Garfield. We checked out the murals around town…and visited an old doll store in Blawnox that I used to go to as a child with my mom.  And the list can go on. My advice, whether it be with a child, friend, partner, or relative; take the time to do such an unplanned day.    It works best with just one other person.  Obviously taking more people won’t hurt a thing, but I really like the one on one time.  It made a difference in the day, I believe.  You are able to focus on the person you are with and love and learn so much more. And for the families with more than one child, making the day separate from each child is key, I feel.  How often do you get to be with your children individually, just hanging out?  With our busy schedules, it can’t be that often.  To make a special day of that, it has got to be spirit lifting for your child.  And, for you too