Family time

By Carol Dores

Now that our boys are men, I asked each of them what they remember most from their childhood. I specifically asked if it was the yelling. I was amazed that they each separately answered the question the same way. It was the family dinners. The time on the lake. Doing stuff together. No, the yelling did not stand out for them.

A food company recently asked people who they would like most to have dinner with. The adults answered with celebrity names. They expected their children to do the same. The children said they wanted to have dinner with their parents, or other significant adults in their lives.

What’s the message here?

Family time is important to our children. Way more important than we adults think.

Here are some ideas for ways to find time to spend together.

· Set aside one time a week for a family meal. It could be Sunday morning breakfast.

· Plan a family outing at least once a month. It could be a hike in the woods, or a walk through the neighborhood. It could be that each family member takes a turn to pick something that interests them.

· Work together as a family to get the chores done. The family could meal plan for the week together, and then grocery shop together. There could be a time of the week that everyone pitches in to clean the house. Or you all fold laundry together.

· Watch family videos together. Kids love to see themselves when they were younger. Don’t forget the popcorn!

· Share your passions with each other. One of our sons loved to play board games (and still does as an adult!). So we play games together. There’s a family in our neighborhood that jogs and bikes together (the Mom loves to run).

For any of these, it’s important that everyone put all electronics aside, and really focus on being together. Building these relationships and connections as a family is what they will remember. More than the yelling.

Want to learn more about building connections and relationships with Positive Discipline? Check out the schedule of classes at www.positivedisciplinect.org/parenting-classes/. If there isn’t one that meets your needs, email info@positivedisciplinect.org, and we’ll do our best to meet your needs.

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