Happy Family Living

 

Every day we have the choice to be too busy or the choice to shape our family culture in a positive way. And here’s the best part: we can always make time! There will be lazy Saturdays when our calendar is wide open and we can spend the entire day playing as a family.
And there will be days when we are running from one errand to another with dinner and grocery shopping squeezed somewhere in between. On those days, it’s important to find a small block of time to do something fun as a family, even if it’s only five minutes. Tickle-fest, anyone?
The truth is, it’s not too hard to impress kids. While they require a lot of time, love, and attention most of the time, on days when life is crazy busy, they can get by on small doses and are happy with spontaneous fun. Those small doses come in the form of simple ideas for happy family living. Our family thrives on them and we use them daily, even on the days when we have all the time in the world. Some of our favorite simple ideas are:

Dance Party
Find an upbeat song and dance, jump, and wiggle like crazy.  My kids sing constantly.  They make up songs, sing songs they know, and dance like champs.  The thing you can always know if there is a song coming out of their mouth their is also a smile on their face.

Mommy and/or Daddy Tickle Monster
Parents become monsters wreaking havoc on the kiddos. Lots of tickling and lots of laughing always ensue.

Snuggle Chats
Those last few moments before the kiddos go to sleep. I spend some time chatting about a few things that I'm grateful happened that day. I ask them who they are thankful for and what their dreams/goals are for the next day and beyond.  We chat about how we felt during the day the good and bad.  We get all our words out and I feel like I get so much "secret" information during this time it is wonderful.

Indoor Snowball Fights
Crumpled up scrap paper and fire!!!

Ideas that really need no explanation . . .

Tag
Bubbles in the Kitchen
Jumping on the couch cushions
Rock Paper Scissors


Those are just a few simple ideas that happen daily in our house. Simple things that help us build togetherness in our family.  We believe that happiness is not something you find, it is something you make.  So go ahead...cut loose...laugh out loud...act crazy...and love a lot.  Your day will be happier if you do...mine always is.