Family time? Are you kidding me?

My kids and I don’t see eye-to-eye on the need for “family time” (why am I not surprised?).  With multiple kids, getting them all together (or even getting them to want to be in the same room/house/planet) can be difficult.

Yesterday I told the kids I wanted us to have more family time.  The comments I heard were: (1) “We live together, why do we need family time?”  (2) “I think I’ve had enough of my family for right now.”  (3) “Mom that just sounds so awkward.” and the ever accurate (4) “You mean time where you talk and we listen?”  Yea, this was going to go over very well.

Here are my ideas for family time – they don’t seem all that awkward to me:

1. Breakfast together. Once a week I agree to go all out on breakfast – french toast, eggs, bacon, the whole thing!  Given our schedules, it likely means that I am going to have to force someone out of bed early (a dangerous proposition) or get up early myself … I think the latter is more likely.

2. · Dinner out. Once a week we will plan a dinner out.  When I suggested this, the verbal sparring began. “Who is going to pick the place?”  “I never get to got to the place I like.”  “What night? What time?”  I got tired just listening to the chatter and decided to table this one (pun intended).

3. Friday night dinner at home (or Sunday, if necessary) with a theme – like Chili Night or Thai night or Make Your Own Dinner Night (mom’s favorite!).  We usually have other kids over one of those nights and the kitchen turns into an eating and cooking extravaganza.  It’s family night – plus size.

Given the statistics regarding kids (particularly teens) eating with their families as a preventative measure to drug/alcohol abuse and eating disorders for girls, how can I go wrong?  Plus, aren’t they supposed to like being together … they are siblings!!???   We’re going to try this out and see how it goes.  I’ll keep you posted (no pun intended).

Have a great start to the week!