Think you’re just too busy to spend much time with the spouse and kids? We’re here to tell you that it just isn’t so – and we’ve got ideas to prove it!
Many of us get so wrapped up with our day-to-day lives that we sometimes neglect those most important to us – our family members. Work demands, cooking, household chores, and outside obligations get in the way. This becomes a vicious cycle, and soon you realize that your children have grown up before your very eyes, and you wonder, “Where did all the time go.”
Though you can’t go back in time and change the past, you can look forward and plan to set aside daily time with the family. Here are some ideas for ensuring your family spends quality time together:
1. Schedule appointments – Depending on work demands and the age of your children, you might want to set aside specific times to 5b4 get together. For instance, have dinner around the table every night at a certain time. If schedules don’t permit a dinner, spend time together during evenings or weekends.
2. Turn off the boob tube! – Many families retire to the den after dinner and sit for hours in front of the television until it’s time for bed. Rather than become zombies, turn off the TV and spend some time doings things together. You can have family game night, where each member of the family gets to choose a game on his or her night. Or head to a nice park and have an evening picnic. The fresh air will do wonders for your demeanor, and you’ll have time to really talk with your children. Or get in shape and exercise or play sports together. Your local YMCA/YWCA may offer special exercise or swimming activities especially for families.
3. Get involved with your kids’ lives – This means helping them with school work, getting involved with school and extracurricular activities, or signing up for activities you can both participate in, such as pottery class, taking care of pets, or scouting. Spend time daily talking with your children. Ask them about their day and sincerely listen to what they tell you.
4. Take an annual family vacation – Most families take a vacation at some point in time, but wait till they can afford it. A family vacation do 989 es not need to break the bank. Sure, Disney World is nice, but a week camping in the wilderness can do wonders for the soul, and create memories that last a lifetime. Remember your first camping trip: sleeping in a tent, making smores and exploring nature? Give your children the same gift.
5. Have sweetheart nights with your mate – Spending time with the family doesn’t just mean time with the kids. Set aside a monthly date night for the two of you. Go to dinner, the theatre, or have a romantic picnic. It’ll make for a happier relationship, and that’ll have a positive effect on the children.
We discussed earlier how
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daily structure and routine can alleviate many of the above problems and help you to think about the day in a more constructive way. Despite your best efforts to schedule and rou- tinize your children, however, there are many problems that will require your direct intervention. Your children will fight with one another, leave toys scattered about, and bother you at inappropriate times. They need to do these things because it is how they assert themsel
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ves, test their strength, and learn about their relationship with you. It may be necessary for them, but it is still an awful nuisance for you. You need a way to respond to most of these nuisances that leaves you with some energy and your sense of self-control intact. This is what is meant by a discipline routine.