Resolutions for the family
Rhonda Gordon
Monday, December 29, 2008
With the start of a new year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions. What about focusing your 2009 resolutions around your family and spending more time with those you care about?
Time is limited and we never seem to have enough of it. Recent studies at the University of Maryland concluded Americans actually have more time today than they did thirty years ago. However, the type of time has changed. Today’s families spend smaller amounts of time together, but they do this more frequently than in years past.
Today’s world requires families spend a great deal of time together “waiting” or in transition from one activity to another. Parents would be wise to use this time to talk with their children about their lives and listen to what they have to say. Listen to their dreams and plans for the future. Help them resolve a conflict, memorize those multiplication tables, or plan the upcoming weekend. Many children also do not really understand or know what their parents do at work all day. In simple, positive terms, parents can help their children understand what the “real” world is like and how adults spend their days.
Before getting into the car or going for an appointment, develop an emergency bag of fun things to do. Read the license tags of other vehicles, pay attention to the countryside and look for specific buildings or animals, play a game of twenty questions, start a story with each person contributing a sentence, etc.
Take advantage of these “waiting” times. Instead of “waiting” while mom/dad shop, an older elementary school aged child could be adding prices with a hand calculator and helping figure prices for the family budget. Younger child can read signs, count the number of items or note the variety of fruit and vegetable colors to ensure the family will be receiving their “five a day”. While “waiting” for an older child’s music or sports practice to conclude, younger children can color a picture for that older sibling or make name cards for an upcoming meal. Studies show children who have a part in the preparation of a meal are more likely to eat it. Plus this will keep them busy and parents won’t be as likely to hear the whine “I’m hungry. When do we eat?"
These “waiting” times are usually relatively short, unplanned and frequently are stressful with restless, bored, tired, or hungry younger children. With a little imagination and forethought, parents can make use of these times together.
Take time during this busy holiday time to actually enjoy time with family and friends. Think about what your New Year’s resolutions are going to be. Have fun the next couple weeks with all the activities the holidays bring. Involve the whole family making the resolutions; it will be fun and entertaining at the same time.
• Rhonda Gordon is the family and consumer sciences agent for K-State Research and Extension in Lyon County. For more information on this column, nutrition, food safety, parenting, financial management, health and safety e-mail Rhonda at rgordon@ksu.edu call the Lyon County Extension Office at 341-3220.