Celebrating Family Day

 

Family Day is just around the corner and I know there are some sceptics out there that wonder if we really need a “day” designated to just being a family, being together, and enjoying each other’s company.

 

The word family gets tossed around on a daily basis without much thought on the weight of the word. What is a family anyway? What does family mean to you? What does it mean to your children? I suggest you take the day to really think about it, talk about it with your kids and make it a meaningful word. You can kick start the conversation by asking a few questions

 

• What is the best thing about our family?
• If you could change one thing in our family what would it be?
• As a family, what do we stand for?
• What can we do better as a family?

 

 

Be sure to listen to what each person has to say and be sure not to criticize or get defensive. If one member says they wish they could change all the yelling or they wish they did more things together in a big group, listen to that.

 

This is also a great time to explain to our kids that all families look different. Some families have two moms, some have two dads, some have single parents, some families have neither a mom or dad but have grandparents and foster parents. A family is simply a group of people who live together and love each other unconditionally. Who plays what role is unimportant. What counts is that everyone has a place to belong, a place to feel safe, and a place where they are always supported.

 

Why not really put some meaning behind the word and come up with a family coat of arms. Let each person contribute by adding symbols and words that represent your family values. Or come up with a family mission statement or handshake that everyone is part of creating.

 

I hope your year (including Family Day) is filled with love and laughter.