My husband and I were chatting yesterday, after watching “The Hangover” (yes, it’s as funny as people tell you it is, for the record!), about what Family Time means to us.
OK, truth be told, I was chatting about it and my husband was, I hope, following along with the discussion.
Regardless, my husband has been home for the past few days while his office is closed for the holidays. The Boy has just attached himself to his daddy during this time. He lights up when daddy enters the room and jumps up and down, waiting for the fun to begin. My husband works pretty long hours, with an hour commute each way. He often has to stay late to work on something for a client, so he usually gets home after The Boy has gone to bed. The Boy gets to spend some time with him over the weekends, but we usually end up handing The Boy back and forth as one of us runs out to do errands uninterrupted. In short, we barely spend any time together, as a little family of three.
So my resolution for 2010 is to make Sunday our designated “Family Day”. A day that The Husband, The Boy and I will devote to spending time together. Gotta run errands? We’re running them together! Going to Church? Together! Coffee with a friend? We’re all going! Playing with the ball-popper and “tool bench”? All three of us!! You get the picture.
I never thought I would have to assign a day specifically for Family Time. It was one of those things that I thought would naturally occur when a family was created. However, I failed to take into account the busyness of our respective lives and the fact that deadlines and bosses don’t always care that your almost 8 month old hasn’t hung out with his mom and dad together for three weeks! I have a schedule for cleaning and writing, so why not family time, right?
Therefore, Sunday is Family Day in my household. And I am so looking forward to planning great outings or just sipping coffee, laying on our play mats, and watching The Boy use his plastic red hammer to smash the heck out of his yellow farmhouse. Mostly, I am looking forward to getting to hang out, at least once a week, with my two favourite guys! And, while it is scheduled time, I guess we’ve decided that Family Time means being together no matter how “forced” it is!
How do you feel about scheduling Family Time in your household?? Is there a designated Family Time in your household or do you just allow it to happen naturally?
Hi Sarah:
I am reading your thoughts, and am appreciating your desire to create a balanced and happy family. You remind me of my time as a young Mom, when my son, daughter, and husband, were my motivation for everything I did. They continue to be, and were the happiest days of my life. If your children and husband are the people you most love to be with, (and I can see that they are), then everyday is family time, even when your apart. Love from an ol’ friend!
The best part of this “scheduled” family time (thus far) has been how much The Boy loves playing with both of us. He gets so excited he almost doesn’t know what to do with himself!
Yes, from one busy mom to another, family time does need to be scheduled many a times. It is easy to let the crazy demands on people to overtake the primary responsibility of raising children. Bravo that you have already figured the importance of family time. At the Shins, we are still trying to work it in without it seeming artifical. I hope that you had a great holiday! Take care & keep in touch.
Family time doesn’t just happen. Great plan to have Sunday as Family Day. So many other things can take the place of quality time and, as Jen said, as the children get older, everyone is scattering in different directions. Great post.
Do it, Sarah! Now is the time to get in the habit because if you have other children you have to divide your time even more and then once they get older they are all doing different things at different times. Take advantage while you can!