genesis domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /services/webpages/f/i/financialpsychologycenter.com/public/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114(Fabric) – After my husband bought an additional TV for our bedroom, he, our son and I were on three devices at the same time. The only real talking we did was to tell each other to turn down the volume.<\/p>\n
Before coronavirus forced us to spend every minute together, I\u2019d find myself complaining about picking up my son from preschool, biking the few miles in the intense Florida heat.<\/p>\n
The fact that my husband and I both work from home, plus my son’s getting used to his at-home routine means we have plenty of \u201copportunities\u201d to spend time together. Of course, relishing these moments can feel hard, especially with work deadlines and your children acting up because their routine is disrupted.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why I\u2019ve asked relationship, family and money experts to help you find ways to savor even the mundane time that you spend with your family\u2014whether or not you\u2019re in the middle of a pandemic.<\/p>\n
Here are some seemingly ordinary activities you can do with your family that\u2019ll help you grow closer together (instead of tearing each other apart).<\/p>\n
It can be helpful to create a new routine, especially if your old ones have been disrupted. Instead of dictating the routine to your kids, why not involve your children in the planning?<\/p>\n
Jonathan Dixon, a licensed marriage and family therapist, suggests families start slow. Schedule a time when everyone is free and won\u2019t be interrupted. Take the time to listen to what activities each family member enjoys and how they can be implemented into the week ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cTry a routine similar to you and your children\u2019s typical daily schedule,\u201d he says. \u201cThis can help you get into your child\u2019s world a bit; ask them to show you what their day would\u2019ve looked like at school. Ask what they love to do for recess and try incorporating those activities.\u201d<\/p>\n
It could also be helpful to discuss a\u00a0morning routine<\/a>\u00a0where you\u2019re spending time together before going off to your separate activities. For example, Fabric\u2019s editorial director Allison Kade has found it hard to be quarantined with her husband and toddler while trying to work a full-time job, but she\u2019s been trying to see the upside: \u201cThe three of us now have breakfast together pretty much every day, which we didn\u2019t do before.\u201d<\/p>\n See if you can build positivity into these new daily routines. Kade says, \u201cTo try to focus on\u2014and bond over\u2014something positive, we\u2019ve been taking turns saying something we\u2019re grateful for over breakfast.\u201d More often than not, her 2-year-old announces that she\u2019s grateful for the bib she\u2019s wearing. \u201cOne time she said she was grateful for her Papa, though!\u201d<\/p>\n While you\u2019re getting used to a new routine, Dixon suggests checking in once a week and adjusting if necessary.\u00a0Dr. Alex Melkumian<\/u><\/a>, a relationship therapist and founder of the Financial Psychology Center, agrees. \u201cHave your family think of this as a team effort so it\u2019ll encourage buy-in from them.\u201d<\/p>\n Especially in a \u201csocially distanced\u201d world where there isn\u2019t much to do\u00a0other\u00a0<\/em>than going for a walk, this sounds about as mundane as it gets, right?<\/p>\n For Leisa Peterson, author of soon-to-be published book\u00a0The Mindful Millionaire,\u00a0<\/em>this seemingly simple activity helps her to engage in really good conversations and learn new things about her family.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a teenager, which means conversation, when it happens, is priceless. It allows us to ask each other questions about how what’s happening in the world could affect our lives and our future,\u201d she says. \u201cMy son is incredibly insightful and I always learn new things when he is talking.\u201d<\/p>\n Walking or hiking in nature also helps her family get some much-needed exercise. \u201cI think that spending time with my family is my greatest joy in life\u2014there is nothing like being able to connect deeply with my family through communication and being in nature together,\u201d Peterson says.<\/p>\n For younger kids, too, getting outside can make a big behavioral difference. \u201cMy toddler might be throwing a tantrum at home, but once we get her outside, she tends to absorb what\u2019s around her and become a different person,\u201d says Kade.<\/p>\n After discovering that my family watches three different shows on three different screens, I made it a point to watch a movie together. We each take turns picking one we like and we all talk about it.<\/p>\n Couples counselor\u00a0Adam H. Kol,<\/u><\/a>\u00a0J.D. says that spending\u00a0 a few dollars to rent a movie (which you can do through plenty of online services like Amazon) can actually be a great use of funds because it can facilitate meaningful discussion.<\/p>\n He suggests movies that help you relive your childhood memories, which will encourage you to share some of these stories with your children. Or, really, any movie where you kids will be able to recall details and be able to articulate their opinion afterwards.<\/p>\n \u201cA mundane activity such as this means you\u2019re carving out intentional time where you minimize the use of cell phones or other distractions,\u201d he says. \u201cIt means setting aside jobs or other commitments to simply be together.\u201d<\/p>\n OK, let\u2019s be real: When life is busy, it\u2019s not always possible to carve out special time. But attempting to relish the moment with your kids doesn\u2019t have to mean special field trips, especially if you can make your chores feel more meaningful.<\/p>\n It can feel anxiety inducing to have your kids, especially little ones, do chores. How long does it really take to put building blocks away?<\/p>\n But Joel Larsgaard, host of the\u00a0How To Money podcast<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and father of two young kids himself, takes chores as an opportunity. That means embracing the craziness, and accepting that the house will get messy and it\u2019ll take longer to complete certain tasks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a blast to have our kids cook with us, but only if we go into it knowing that we’ll have a far bigger mess on our hands when all is said and done,\u201d he says. \u201cThe goal isn’t efficiency. It’s to enjoy time together, and to help them learn some important skills.\u201d<\/p>\n2. Make Your Walks Meaningful<\/h2>\n
3. Rent a Movie (Then Talk About It)<\/h2>\n
4. Transform Chores Into Activities<\/h2>\n