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As we all know, spending quality time with the family is what we are supposed to do as parents, however much of the time life seems to get in the way. We have birthday parties and sporting events, house chores and errands to run, illnesses and injuries, blah blah blah. Before we know it, weeks pass and if we are cognizant of it, we look back and think, "I have not made time for my children, my partner or myself in weeks! My life is out of my control!"
Have no fear, Responsible Family is here with a family activity for you! But first, I want to ask you a few questions to get you thinking about what you want out of your relationships.
Communication is the key to healthy relationships
One of the first things to be neglected and one of the most important aspects of a healthy relationship is communication. If we are not talking about our lives, our goals, our dreams, our problems with our loved ones, life can get quite lonely very quickly. Spending quality time with our partner, our children and ourselves is the only way that we can have a healthy, balanced life: mind, body and spirit.
Have you stopped to ask yourself if you are spending enough quality time with you, your partner or your family? Do you make sure to spend at least 15 minutes every day, one on one with your children, without television, phones, computers or anything else to distract you? Do you feel that your children know how important they are to you, without having to say it? Do you make a consious effort to show your family that they are a priority in your life? Do you schedule time for the people who matter in your life?
Activity to Strengthen Communication
One activity that can help individuals, partners and families with communication is a trip to a museum. I know it sounds kind of boring, but museums are wonderful places to learn and to observe. If you are an art enthusiast, pick an art museum or there are children's museums, history museums, cultural museums, aquariums, and more. Flip open the phone book to the museum section, pick a museum, pack a bag of snacks and go!
Once you are at the museum, listen to each other and truly hear what each person has to say. What things does each person like? Not like? Is anyone afraid of something? Intrigued with something? Does anyone have a story to share about something they see in the museum? Let each person take turns deciding which direction to walk in. Take turns being leaders and followers. Observe not just the environment you are in, but how your family members react to the museum and each other.
The main idea is to pay attention to how you communicate as a family. Does each person get a chance to speak, without being judged or criticized? If you notice that things feel unequal or that you have a hard time enjoying yourself, focus on that. This may be an area of communication that needs your attention. If you feel that you might need some professional assistance, don't hesitate to call a therapist.
Making a habit out of spending quality time with your family will put emotional currency in your family's bank account. If for any reason you feel too busy or that you just cannot figure out what to do on a regular basis with your family, we have a very exciting membership called the Relationship Planner that will be launching on Responsible Family in a few weeks, so stay tuned! In the meanwhile, try to follow your family's lead and enjoy being together! Summer is almost here and warm weather will bring a whole new perspective to family activities!
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Communication 
