Giving your family the gift of closeness is one the best gifts you can ever give them.
We are all getting busier and busier all the time with our own pursuits. Having a family is beginning to seem more as an afterthought, or even a burden, more so than the deep blessing it's meant to be. That is an upsetting statement. Unfortunately, looking at the statistics of divorce, and broken families today, it hits very close to home. Let's look at some ways to stay connected and to remember that our family is more than a job and more than an interruption, they are the best part our lives!
Traditions
Family traditions play an important role in family togetherness and staying connected. Whether it's a holiday gathering, or a regular vacation, make sure there is something in place for the entire family to look forward to on a regular basis.
You may also want to make sure every family member has some tasks to help enrich the event. This will help all family members feel valuable to the event as well as give them a deeper sense of responsibility to the overall family happiness.
Even very young children can help with an event. If it's a holiday tradition, let them help decorate cookies, or color pictures to hang up or give to family members. If it's an annual trip, let them help pack.
Family Meetings
Schedule a weekly, or monthly meeting that everyone needs to be in attendance for. This is an excellent time to catch up on each other's lives. It is a time to talk about family and personal goals and how each family member can help.
You can assign themes to family meetings to keep them more interesting. One family meeting can be about family chores and negotiating that is in charge of what. Again, make sure you are giving the little ones things to do as well.
Another idea for a theme is a gratitude meeting. Ask each family member to have a list ready of things they are thankful about, for each other in the home, and for their personal lives. Let each person read their lists and see how good you all feel listening to each other sharing joys together!
Along with family meetings, make sure and have a personal meeting between you and your significant other. During that meeting, plan one night a week that is just for the two of you. Your goal is to keep romance alive in your partnership. Remember, yard work is not a date! Your time together doesn't have to be extravagant every week. Just be together and enjoy each other's company.
Fifteen-Minute Rule
Make it a point to give each family member at least fifteen minutes of undivided attention each day. This does not need to be an official event, just something for you to make it a point to do every day. This is especially important if you are all going in different directions and rarely even get to spend supper together.
How you spend these fifteen minutes is up to you. It might be divided up throughout the day, or you might have to do a fifteen-minute phone call, or instant messaging. It might even be in the car driving to and from one of the day's activities.
Use this time to share information, such as what is the best and worst thing that happened during the day. Ask your loved one what they've learned, or what they think about current events. Make sure that part of this time is to tell them you love them.
Distant Family Members
You might have a loved one that is far away at school, in the military, or away on business. It's still possible to stay close at heart. The Internet has many resources to stay in touch. Of course, there is email and instant messaging; there are also photo-sharing sites and personal websites that can help you stay connected. Go to your favorite search engine and look up some of the resources that might work best for you.
Take time to send letters to your loved one that is away. As wonderful as the Internet is, it will never replace the personal touch of being able to physically hold your written word. Mail them little things that show them that you are thinking of them throughout the day as well.
Ask your family what events or activities they can think of to help stay connected. Children usually have wonderful suggestions and feel good to be able to express them. They might come up with some fun activities that could even turn into new family traditions!
Staying connected with your family is the finest gift you will ever give them. Get creative and have fun!
