The Four F’s of Life (No, Not That F-Word…)

When someone mentions “the 4 F’s,” your mind might immediately wander into Rated-R territory. But no, this isn’t about “fuckety fuck fucked fucker” (though, honestly, that phrase has carried many of us through child-rearing years). I’m talking about the real 4 F’s that keep us upright, sane, and semi-balanced in this beautiful chaos we call life:

Family. Friends. Food. Fun.

The Balancing Act

The truth is, we all juggle these four pillars differently. Maybe your Family is thriving but your Fun looks like scrolling Zillow in your pajamas. Or maybe your Food game is on point (kale smoothies, Pinterest boards, the whole deal) but your Friends situation is more tumbleweeds than tacos. That’s normal! The F’s don’t need to be equally weighted—they just need to exist. They hold each other up.

Open Nesting = Friends + Fun Upgrade

Enter the magical chapter of open nesting—when the kids can (mostly) feed themselves, find their own rides, and argue with their partners instead of you. This is when the “Friends” and “Fun” categories finally get a glow-up. Suddenly, there’s space to say yes to a girls’ trip, a cooking class, or that yoga retreat you’ve secretly bookmarked for years.

This is also where the concept of Didi comes in. Didi means trusted sister. It’s the sisterhood you choose, the friends who get you, and the women who remind you that life is way more fun when you’re not stuck being the family cruise director 24/7.

Why All Four Matter

• Family: They shaped you, drove you crazy, and made you cry into your pillow—bless them. They’re still your people.

• Friends (Didis): The mirror you need, the laugh-until-you-snort companions, the ones who pull you out of your funk.

• Food: The glue of every gathering. From cheese boards to churros, food is connection.

• Fun: The soul-fuel. Whether it’s dancing, hiking, karaoke, or just sitting in a hammock listening to waves—it matters.

The Didi Way

At Didi Retreats, we lean hard into Friends + Fun while giving Family and Food their rightful place at the table (literally—our retreat meals are legendary). It’s the space to reset your balance, laugh so hard you cry, and find your new definition of “F.”

Because open nesting isn’t about losing the kids—it’s about reclaiming the F’s. And if you do it right, there’s a whole lot less fuckety-fuck in the mix.