As a parent, I know this time of year is when our lives pick back up into full swing. Summer is nearing an end, school is starting and let’s not forget all of the activities, lessons, and clubs that will be starting or already have. January is not the start of a new year for families with children in school. August is when our new year actually starts. Schedules fill up with school registration, back to school nights, PTA sign-ups, homework, clubs and sports team registrations, try-outs, orientations and scheduling and the list goes on, right?
As my husband and I recently discussed what our upcoming schedule will look like with work, the new school year and activities starting, we noticed that we might have less time to spend together as a family and as a couple. With all the craziness that is about to start or has started for those with school aged children it is important to keep your family and especially your marriage at the top of the priority list. This will be beneficial to your marriage and your family relationships. Here are some ideas to keep your family and marriage first that we have all probably heard but need to remember to do:
Dinner/Meal Time- Try to find time each day that you can all sit down and eat a meal together. This meal time does not have to be limited to just dinner. You could all sit down and have breakfast together before everyone starts their day or the family could all meet up to get some ice cream. Use this time to talk to each other about what is going on in each other’s lives with work, school and with their friends. If you can’t do this daily, don’t stress. Try to when you can. There are some weeks we only have one meal with all 6 family members there, but whenever we can sit down together, we do.
Family Activity- Each week, try to find time that you can spend as a family doing an activity together. For some busy families, once a week is not feasible but try to do this at least 2-4 days a month. This can be anything from spending a Sunday afternoon at the park, going on a hike or a bike ride, playing games on a night you all have free, going on a family drive, even a mini vacation is a great way to feel like you get away as a family but you don’t have to spend a lot of money or time planning it. My mini vacations consist of one or two nights in a hotel in a city close by but yet far enough to feel away!
Couple Time- In carving out time to spend as a family, parents need to remember to carve out time for their marriage as well. Through all of the hustle and bustle with kids, couples tend to put their relationship on the back burner or low on the priority list. A healthy marriage is what will keep the family closer together especially through these busy times. Remember to continue your weekly dates. Go to bed together. After the kids are in bed, use that time to just be alone with each other. Check in with each other throughout the day with a simple text or phone call to see how the other’s day is going and so they know you are thinking of them. Go on a mini vacation too! Let’s not let our relationship with our spouse slip away because we are too caught up with this crazy, busy time of year.
Then once we are all settled in to our new routines, having everything figured out and going smoothly…. the holidays begin!
