Enjoying family time is something our culture doesn’t value enough these days. Taking the time to slow down and get to know each other better is priceless! My husband and I live far away from our extended families, so we know how precious time with them is. From the beginning, we have made it a priority to create a nuclear family that enjoys each other’s company. Now that our kids are teenagers, we are so happy that we did. They still like hanging out with us, and we have fun together! Here is what I’ve learned from making our family the priority over everything else.
Enjoying Family Time
Enjoying family time is not something we often think about with the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Growing up, we were blessed to be able to take part in any activity we could fit into our schedule. For me that meant dance lessons, music lessons, extra curricular school sports, Brownies, Girl Guides, and Job’s Daughters. I was a hyper active kid, so my Mom kept me as busy as possible. My siblings also took part in lots of activities as well. We would see extended family every Sunday at church, birthdays, and holidays. Life was busy, and full.
Once my siblings and I headed off to University, things changed. We moved to different cities, got married, had kids, and seeing each other got less frequent. We are so blessed to live in an age where we can text, call, or video call each other with a moments notice. When my great grandparents left Norway for Canada, they didn’t even have the option to pick up a phone and never returned to visit. Getting together is always a challenge, and just the thought of coordinating it can be overwhelming for me. I have learned however that it is so worth the effort!
Being Willing To Slow Down
It’s incredible how busy we all are these days, so taking time to slow down can be challenging. I have found that slowing down is exactly what we need to do to connect and create memories. Having my Mom come to visit is always a blast! Our trips to El Salvador to visit with family there are some of the best memories that we and our kids have. It always cheers my heart when my kids bring up trips we’ve had to visit family. I’ve also found that altering our schedules for these gatherings is a great way to break the monotony of life and bring new perspective.
Having shared memories with others is such a great way to bond too. If you’ve ever been among friends discussing an event you missed, you know what I’m talking about. The last few years have isolated and disconnected a lot of us. This disconnection has proven to be very challenging on the mental state of the people world wide. It will take decades to know the full extent of the damage the mandates of the Covid era have had on our mental well being. The best way to counteract those effects is to spend family time together.
Creating New Memories
Creating new memories is a great step forward to forging new bonds and strengthening relationships. My niece plays Ringette (It’s like hockey, but usually played by girls with blade-less sticks and a ring.) Recently, we had the awesome opportunity to go and watch her play at a weekend tournament. It was in a city far enough away for us to book a hotel for a couple of nights. It was super fun to hang out with my brother’s family, my Mom and kids. We all had so much fun together, and it allowed my kids to get to know their out of town relative’s better.
The experience was in a word – PRICELESS. These are memories that can’t be watched again on a tv screen, but only replayed in our minds. This has taught me not to take the easy route by staying home, but embracing every opportunity to get together with family and friends. This is how bonds are formed and life enjoyed to the fullest! In Canada, our government worked very hard to divide and separate us from each other. It’s now clearer to me than ever, that now is the time to get back those years we lost and focus on creating a bright future together.
In Conclusion
Enjoying family time is essential for our mental and physical health no matter our age. Focusing on family time despite our busy schedules helps us build a strong family unit. Reaching out to extended family and creating memories together helps improve our mental health and feeling of belonging. I highly recommend taking whatever steps may be necessary for you to start rebuilding your family connections today. Your entire family will benefit exponentially both mentally and physically when you do! Reach out to me at andrea@nopainallgain.ca if you would like more ideas or information to make this a reality in your life.
As a naturally born encourager, I live to help others!!! One-on-one coaching is a great way to start building your confidence, and improve your health! I help people with Fibromyalgia and chronic illness manage their symptoms with ease, so they never feel held back again! Click here for an application form and I would be happy to help you in your journey. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter by clicking here. You can also contact me at andrea@nopainallgain.ca or check out my website: www.nopainallgain.ca
