We live in a time where most people are dreadfully afraid of commitments. The promise of married life which once held the prospects of joy, security and love has been replaced with nightmarish notions of overwhelming restrictions, constant frustration and an apathetic home.
The primary reason for this is the fact that the bad aspects have been highlighted so much by the media which has created this aura of negativity and hopelessness regarding family life. It is presented as dull, boring, wearisome and overall fruitless.
The reality is far from different. Life with your family can indeed be all these things and worse; if you go about it the wrong way. No good thing comes without responsibilities attached and the negligence of those responsibilities can have negative effects with far-reaching ripples.
Today, we are going to talk about a few ways which you can adopt to make your household a fun and friendly environment. Something that will bring a little light into that drab space and turn it into something wholesome and appealing.
MAKE TIME
Workaholics often beguile themselves into thinking that every moment they spend working is somehow going to benefit their family. Well, we are here to tell you that that is not entirely true.
Have you ever heard the phrase “less is more”? It might seem like a paradox at first but the essence of the message is something we need to learn from.
Decades from now, your children are not going to remember how much time you spent working so you can provide them with every lavish thing their mind could conjure up. What they are going to remember are the moments they spent in your company – or lack thereof. The moments where you could huddle together, laugh, giggle, play and poke each other. These moments create memories and no amount of money is an adequate substitute for them.
FAMILY TRIPS
Planning trips together will strengthen the bond you have with your family. Initially it may be tough, if they are not used to that sort of thing. But consistent perseverance always yields results.
Now, we are not suggesting that you plan expensive trips to Dubai or Switzerland, travel first-class and book passage on luxurious yachts. A family trip should be about family; a small picnic, a long drive, a visit to the in-laws, some fun at a theme park. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. All it takes is some dedication and tiny bit of pre-planning.
MEMORABILIA
Create memories together and document them: in the form of photo albums or scrapbooks so that you can immortalize those precious moments and look back at them fondly in the future.
Memorabilia doesn’t have to consist of photos. it can be any item that you associate with a loved one. There is no shame in holding on to such objects and using them as reminders.
SHARED MEALS
This is incredibly important. Meal time is one of the most convenient times for communication; for general chitchats where everyone can pitch in and talk about their day, their hobbies, their future plans, their academics, things they are struggling with. It allows everyone an opportunity to open up and offers an environment where you can learn about everyone by being somewhat attentive and patient.
Children who lunch and dine with their parents often experience less problems than others. The bond they share is stronger and it closes the generational gap that is typically present between all families.
DEALING WITH GRIEVANCES
Sharing good times is easy. We all love it when there is nothing to worry about and we are surrounded by cheerful conversation and hearty laughs. But the thing that really makes or breaks a family is how they get through the bad times. It is imperative that we learn as spouses and parents to learn to cooperate during stressful situations.
The most important aspect of this is to realize if a member of the family needs emotional support; to put aside our differences and hear them out, patiently and without judgment.
Many people become disillusioned with their families simply because they get ignored and neglected during their times of need.
COLLECTIVE HOBBIES
Blood is blood; we didn’t choose the people we were blessed with but we shall try to love them unconditionally, nonetheless.
However, it’s a lot easier to love each other when we have common interests and desires. This is not nearly as hard as some people claim it is. Everyone has something in common; you just have to find out what it is. After all, humans share more than 99% of their DNA with each other. How different can we really be.
Whether it be your love for football, reading lengthy novels, writing journals, online gaming, sketching, working out at the gym, or just sitting by the window with a cup of coffee and enjoying the rain, you can use your love for the things common between you to help bring you closer together.