What kind of quality time stuff does your family do in the evenings? We play games or read a book, or watch movies. The weather here is too hot right now to go outside. DH is definitely NOT into crafts. Any suggestions for other indoor stuff to do?
On smarterkids.com they give reviews of different games to help kids with specific academic skills. We've been picking games based on what our kids need to work on in school. They don't even know it! It's been pretty helpful so far (school started 8/14). Anybody else do this?
As for books, about once a week we get together and DH or I read a chapter of a book. Right now it's the 2nd Harry Potter book. DD has already read it, but we're all listening together and then we discuss parts of it afterwards. Of course we'll be going to see the movie right after school on the day it comes out!
Movies are a big part of our weekends, and sometimes we watch them during the week too. We tried to find ones that the kids had on their reading lists over the summer, reinforcing the idea of reading the book and seeing the movie.
Starting in October I'm hoping to have a Christmas Gift night every other week or so for the kids to start making gifts. Some are crafts, others are not. They will not be enthusiastic about it, as they are accustomed to having someone do all of this for them, but I think it's as good a time as any to start. Any suggestions for making it flow smoothly?
Our nights are ao busy with tae kwon do, ballet, cub scouts and church that we don't just get a family night anymore. But, everynight I sit down with the kids and read. We go to the library once a week and check out different books and movies. then at 7:00. we sit down on the couch. The boys each read a book to us and then I read a few more books until 7:30. (Then they brush thier teech and head to bed.) We play games after homework is done when school lets out. On ballet /church night the kids get to spend time with their grandma and we eat supper there. It makes it nice that the kids get to include grandma in the weekely activity and it keeps grandma involved in the things that go on in thier lives.
I guess our family time would be going to the library and on Saturday mornings when we sit around the livingroom talking, laughing and just watching the kids and then go garage saleing. We also have our Monday night pancake picnic where we eat pancakes on a sheet in the livingroom and watch a movie. Enough rambling! Enjoy your family, I enjoy mine!
Our family time was dinner every night. With my granddaughter, we went to all the free events in our city. I was a young widow and didn't have the money to pay for entertainment. Now, even though I have more money, I can't see the need to pay for entertainment. Just last night, my husband and I went to free Bluegrass music, a non-smoking, non-alcohol restaurant. He bought a bar-b-que plate, and I had a cup of coffee since I don't like bar-b-que. We will return another Friday or Saturday night for this free entertainment.
The local college publishes in the newspaper and will send you a personal copy on request of their upcoming musical events. All the military bands came to the college, indoors in the auditorium, free. The churches also have a lot of free activities, not only for members, for the community also. Our community is having more free health fairs. Nice gifts are given out by each medical representative. Sometimes, like the Health Fairs at my church, we gave away great door prizes we'd gotten from the surrounding business community. Free health checks were available, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, hearing tests, bone density tests, free certificates for exams from a dentist, free tooth brushes, etc. Recently, they started having them at the local assisted living center. These people do enjoy seeing the people from the community. Some of them are very active and able to get out, but for those who cannot, they enjoy seeing young people. We've attended two Health Fairs at the assisted living center close to our home. One other activity they had for the public was "A Taste of Anderson" (Anderson, SC) where the local restaurants and catering companies provided free samples of their food. It was a free event. We voted on the best food, the best presentation, etc, and prizes were awarded to the restaurants and caterers. It was enjoyed by everyone.
We have dinner together almost every evening. It is very rare these days that one of us is gone at dinner time. That means we eat a little later to accomodate soccer, dance, swimming, etc. Both of us tuck the children in for bed. Sometimes we read together at bedtime (the oldest devours books and reads all of the time, the youngest simply thinks that books were meant to be devoured). We also bike or walk together as a family, we have dinner at the pool, we play games (monopoly the board game or the card game, scrabble or uno). Once a week we make homemade pizza together. It is difficult at times, but we manage to make time to do things together as a family.
Dinsky - thanks for the encouragement. It used to make me so mad in Sociology classes in college, I was an older student, when the professors said studies show that no family eats dinner together anymore. I insisted that we did, although we were Mother, daughter, and granddaughter, we considered ourselves a family. Many nights, it was only me and my granddaughter, but I never left her sit at the table alone. When I watch Funniest Home Videos, and the babies are falling asleep in their highchairs into their food, it makes me sick. I never left my children alone in their high chairs and if they were tired, they went to bed not to sleep in their plate of spaghetti!
When I hear the studies about families not eating together anymore, I want to say "Don't just all people by yourself". Yes, it does take juggling, but that is what being parents is all about. I never thought it was easy being a parent, but I kept trying.
Now that there are only the two of us at home, we don't eat at the dining room or kitchen table, but we do eat together in the den, watching TV, something I never let my children do. When we have company, even if it is only my granddaughter, we normally have dinner in the dining room. She was brought up that way and she expects it.
I just can't imagine feeding everyone at a different time. That would be very stressful for me. I always made one dinner and if the children didn't like everything, they had to eat what they did like, and no other food was cooked for them. I was widowed young and remarried after 10 years. My current husband said it was that way in his house too.
DH is not here a lot because of his job and when he is here, he usually is asleep or watching the news. I am with the kids the most, so we watch an appropriate TV program or video together. (Last night they were soooo excited that I was willing to watch Tarzan and Jane with them over popcorn!) Also we read and listen to music.
I enjoyed reading this post. Sometimes I think when we parents get wrapped up in life we forget the things that are most important. I make all of these plans I intend to follow through with as family. Then when my kids ask to play a game or craft with me...I seem to make up tired excuses. On the drive home from Mexico I was listening to the local country radio stations and I heard a new song. The words were about "kids fighting in the backseat, not being able to wait til they grow up some times...BUT then they do it". I don't remember all of the words but they really touched me!
As far as our family time... warmer weather seems to make life easier. The last 3 years my sister-in-law was in the US and my hubby had to take her to work everyday. Consequently we were not able to do much together. I am looking forward to spending ALOT of time together.
We enjoy camping, fishing, picnics, night drives/ spotlighting for deer, campfires and stargazing, and drive-in movies.
I would like some fresh ideas of things to do (low-cost) during the frigid weather we are having. Ideas????
I like to bake and movies are a given. We play cards and a few games...other thoughts? My kids are 10,12, 15, and 15. It is getting harder and harder to keep their interest. (Especially the 12 year old).
I look very forward to hearing from you!
Hugs and Blessings,
Cathy
__________________ Hugs and Blessings,
Cathy
Admit your mistakes so that NO ONE else can exaggerate them
You can NOT amputate your HISTORY from your DESTINY~ Beth Moore
For our time in the evenings, we watch some tv, and like to play games, like Yahtzee, or crazy 8's, even chess. Some friends just taught us Kanasta! Today as we were playing (this afternoon) (it was the adults today, ) I told my husband, "I feel like my parents" Playing cards, drinking coffee....ha ha guess we do become our parents....
I am not sure if you all are familiar with the game "pigs". A group of us girls had gotten hooked on it a few years ago at a ladies retreat.
Anyway, I had left my original game ( with plastic lil' pigs) with one of my nephews, and my best pal decided to use a regular dice. You roll as many times as you choose, but if you roll a 1 you loose ALL of your points. First one to 100 wins.
The homemade dice version is probably called something else, but a simple game like that pleases my gang
__________________ Hugs and Blessings,
Cathy
Admit your mistakes so that NO ONE else can exaggerate them
You can NOT amputate your HISTORY from your DESTINY~ Beth Moore
On the drive home from Mexico I was listening to the local country radio stations and I heard a new song. The words were about "kids fighting in the backseat, not being able to wait til they grow up some times...BUT then they do it". I don't remember all of the words but they really touched me! 
exaggerate them
your DESTINY
~ Beth Moore
