The summer is coming to a close, and school is about to start back up again, but the summer fun doesn’t have to come to a complete stop. Apparently, August is Family Fun Month! A reminder that we should be carving out time for family bonding even as we get back into our usual routines. My days can be hectic, but I try my best to make time for family fun whenever I can, no matter how busy I get. Today, I want to share some of my favorite ways to connect with my family (despite our varying interests and age groups) and maybe inspire some of you to shake up how you spend time with your loved ones.
Family life is a jumble of schedules and interests, but despite our differences, we find that vacations are a golden opportunity for us to enjoy something together. Of course, we can’t always be on the sands of some tropical beach, so the next best thing is actually quite simple: sharing a meal. There’s something special about gathering around the dinner table, without the distractions of daily life that brings us closer together.
The dining room table in our home has been doubling as my desk since the office is still in the works. But when we manage to clear it off and sit down together, the atmosphere changes. Conversations flow, and we really catch up on each other’s lives. While it’s a practice I wish we did more often, my mother-in-law makes sit-down dinners mandatory whenever she visits! Home-cooked meals seem to nurture family bonds in ways that restaurant outings just can’t match. We try to have family dinners at least once a week, especially when the school year ramps up and everyone’s schedules get even crazier.
Another way we come together is through our Netflix marathoning. Picking a show and binge-watching it might not encourage a lot of conversation, but it’s a shared experience that brings its own kind of closeness. We’ve gone through “Young Sheldon” as a family and are currently hooked on “The Big Bang Theory.” These shows weren’t my first choice, but you got to appease the kids! I will admit that watching them as a family has turned them into favorites. They’ve even sparked new inside jokes among us, like adopting Georgie’s Texan twangy “bye” from “Young Sheldon” as our quirky family send-off.
I firmly believe that spending one-on-one time with each of my kids is just as important. With my youngest, Winn, it’s all about swimming trips to the pool, just the two of us. My daughter Claire loves reading, so our special father-daughter time often involves a trip to Barnes & Noble for a new book. And for Clayton, who’s gearing up to leave for college at Loyola University in Chicago, grabbing lunch together has been our thing.
The reality that Clayton will soon be moving away has hit us hard. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly time passes and the importance of making the most of our moments together. So this Family Fun Month, whether it’s a meal, a TV show binge, or just doing something special with each kid, I’m all about creating memories.
Remember, no matter how busy life gets, there’s always time to make meaningful connections with your family. It’s these moments that build the foundation of support and love that lasts a lifetime.
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