Take the time

"When family members work together in the right spirit, a foundation of caring and commitment grows out of their shared experience."

I do not know of a better way to teach my children than to lead by example. I want them to see me being a hard worker. I want them to take pride in the kind of people they are becoming. Honest, hard workers with integrity, selflessness and love. What greater thing to teach them all of this than to have them working by me and my husband's side.

"We must look carefully, therefore, not only at life's large defining moments but also at the seemingly small moments. Even small acts and brief conversations count, if only incrementally, in the constant shaping of souls." 

"Family work is a lifelong opportunity, essential to the process of becoming like our heavenly parents. It was not meant to be consistently easy, convenient, or well-managed." 

No better words could adequately sum up family chores. In our house, chores are occasionally met with the moaning and groaning of angsty teens, but in the end, they know that chores are just being part of the family. We all do our share and we all help to serve each other. 

On the opposite end of chores, is recreation. Free time to enjoy spending time with others. In today's society most people use their "free time" on electronic devices, video games, facebook, and watching youtube videos-- miles away from people, even though they may be sitting right next to you.

Wholesome recreational activities require planning and effort. 

It also requires actual "free time". Sometimes we are so busy planning and scheduling every spare moment with dance, football, voice lesson and the like... that we forget that our children need to be children. They need to have the opportunity to play. It is our job as parents to know when we need to simplify and to organize some family time together.  

"Family meals, a traditional family ritual, have also been found to be beneficial for families.... positive outcomes: family communication, family cohesiveness, healthy eating patterns, improved literacy, better academic performance, and better mental health in adolescents."