Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

ties that help us bond. Consider the things that are important to you and the way you spend your time. These could be special activities with the kids, like playing board games or card games.</p><p id="46e8">What’s familiar to us might seem weird to others. What other values do we hold onto that might be strange or different, out of the norm?</p><h1 id="8d9d">Talk about Money</h1><p id="f61a">Talk about money with your kids. Is this too weird or uncomfortable? We don’t talk about personal finances and bills, but how we think when we spend money. Kids are not too young to <a href="https://readmedium.com/teach-kids-business-sense-early-change-their-lives-forever-684fee7b029b">grasp money concepts</a> of debt, sales tax, and loans.</p><p id="bbd7">If you don’t talk with your kids about money, they will make their own money decisions as they leave the house and go off to school. While I believe it’s essential for kids to learn from their choices, I also think it’s vital to lay the groundwork for thought patterns and frame their decision-making process. If handling money is something you wish your parents had taught you, consider <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-an-eye-on-your-money-is-an-eye-on-your-health-3360164305f6">making an effort to talk with your kids</a> about money matters.</p><h1 id="3f50">Talk to Each Other</h1><p id="12cb">Is this a revolutionary idea? <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2019/01/24/how-much-time-americans-spend-in-front-of-screens-will-terrify-you/#2ae0b6131c67">Forbes</a> says, Americans spend around 12 hours each day in front of the TV and other electronic devices. In truth, it may be longer for those who do not have a commute and work from home. Put down the devices to talk to each other. It may seem a radical idea, but <a href="https://www.family.org.sg/fotfs/Blog/Parenting/A_Family_That_Talks_To_Each_Other_Stays_Together.aspx">Focus on the Family says</a>, the family who talks together stays together.</p><p id="0b4d">We try to make conversation a game. We play the “Be Awesome” game. As we part for the day, we tell each other to be awesome, to make a difference in your corner of outreach, or for someone else. We’ve played the game for so long now that everyone knows as we come around the table each evening, we’re going to talk about how you were awesome today.</p><p id="0945">It’s okay with us if you implement the game in your family too. Find a conversation starter and open the door to talking wit

Options

h the people you love, and the nuclear family has a better chance to foster good connections.</p><h1 id="efe9">Play a Game</h1><p id="24e4">We used to have a family game night once a week. Because everyone is together, it’s understandable that you may need to go to separate rooms for alone time. But, how great would it be to spend time laughing and playing with the kids? One of our favorite games is Catan. It’s a game of strategy, and everyone knows that when we play Catan, we’re going to spend a couple of hours together. It’s not a game we can play often, but it is always a good time.</p><p id="f606">If you don’t have a large block of time, consider shorter games like Yahtzee or Uno. Grab a regular deck of cards and play Rummy, Euchre, Four in the Middle, or Go Fish, if that’s more your style.</p><p id="aa3c">The goal is to spend time together. Do that in any way you can, and the family wins.</p><h1 id="60a7">Do Something Out of the Ordinary</h1><p id="2619">Think outside the box. For us, it was travel. Our perspective changed when we took the kids on their first international trip. To do so, we sold the house and almost all of our physical possessions, and looking back; we still think the cost was worth the <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-most-memorable-move-is-the-recent-one-i-made-under-cover-of-darkness-ea77dc0a6d80">life-changing event</a>. Travel to change your life, even if it’s <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-keep-the-mind-sharp-from-the-comfort-of-your-couch-3845956fcd98">from the comfort of your couch</a>.</p><p id="fe77">There’s no need to sell everything and go minimalistic. Don’t fret if <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-keep-the-mind-sharp-from-the-comfort-of-your-couch-3845956fcd98">Marie Kondo</a> minimalism is not for you. A little creativity to do something different will suffice.</p><h1 id="0f75">Final Thoughts</h1><p id="003a"><a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4615-0649-2_4">Traditional family values</a> aren’t dead. Because we are spending more time together than we ever imagined, it’s arguable that values are alive now more than ever in contemporary modern society.</p><p id="ff7a">I encourage you to take time to reflect on the things you think are important and allow for a special time to spend with your kids. Bonus points if you’re a little weird by keeping traditional values alive.</p><p id="7178">How is your family weird? Embrace it to foster deeper connections.</p></article></body>

Weird Traditional Family Values Still Exist

Foster connection

A conversation at breakfast reminds me of how weird our family is. We were sitting at the table with the kids, having a conversation about Science. The topic for discussion was whether we are on the Earth or in the Earth. If you’re having a hard time grasping the concept, it might help to think on a Third Grade level.

My husband suggested that our daughter bring up the conversation with her teacher at school. She scrunched up her face and asked: “Really?”

“Oh yeah, teachers love to talk about these kinds of things. Just tell her that we were talking about the Earth at breakfast, and you want to know what she thinks,” he said.

The teacher might scratch her head in surprise that we eat together. It got us thinking that many families don’t come to the table to dine and talk like they used to. In fact, 40% of American families eat together three or fewer times a week, according to ConagraBrands.

Spending time together has always been a core value for our family. We try to have breakfast and dinner together. With different school schedules for different kids, having breakfast together isn’t always possible. Even if we go separate ways for the other meals, we come to the table for dinner. It’s where we talk and connect. We share about our day, what the kids did at school, and talk about what’s going on in our lives. Togetherness is something we protect fiercely. Whatever is happening, everyone comes together for mealtime.

It helps to flesh out family values. For us, these are activities that help us bond. Consider the things that are important to you and the way you spend your time. These could be special activities with the kids, like playing board games or card games.

What’s familiar to us might seem weird to others. What other values do we hold onto that might be strange or different, out of the norm?

Talk about Money

Talk about money with your kids. Is this too weird or uncomfortable? We don’t talk about personal finances and bills, but how we think when we spend money. Kids are not too young to grasp money concepts of debt, sales tax, and loans.

If you don’t talk with your kids about money, they will make their own money decisions as they leave the house and go off to school. While I believe it’s essential for kids to learn from their choices, I also think it’s vital to lay the groundwork for thought patterns and frame their decision-making process. If handling money is something you wish your parents had taught you, consider making an effort to talk with your kids about money matters.

Talk to Each Other

Is this a revolutionary idea? Forbes says, Americans spend around 12 hours each day in front of the TV and other electronic devices. In truth, it may be longer for those who do not have a commute and work from home. Put down the devices to talk to each other. It may seem a radical idea, but Focus on the Family says, the family who talks together stays together.

We try to make conversation a game. We play the “Be Awesome” game. As we part for the day, we tell each other to be awesome, to make a difference in your corner of outreach, or for someone else. We’ve played the game for so long now that everyone knows as we come around the table each evening, we’re going to talk about how you were awesome today.

It’s okay with us if you implement the game in your family too. Find a conversation starter and open the door to talking with the people you love, and the nuclear family has a better chance to foster good connections.

Play a Game

We used to have a family game night once a week. Because everyone is together, it’s understandable that you may need to go to separate rooms for alone time. But, how great would it be to spend time laughing and playing with the kids? One of our favorite games is Catan. It’s a game of strategy, and everyone knows that when we play Catan, we’re going to spend a couple of hours together. It’s not a game we can play often, but it is always a good time.

If you don’t have a large block of time, consider shorter games like Yahtzee or Uno. Grab a regular deck of cards and play Rummy, Euchre, Four in the Middle, or Go Fish, if that’s more your style.

The goal is to spend time together. Do that in any way you can, and the family wins.

Do Something Out of the Ordinary

Think outside the box. For us, it was travel. Our perspective changed when we took the kids on their first international trip. To do so, we sold the house and almost all of our physical possessions, and looking back; we still think the cost was worth the life-changing event. Travel to change your life, even if it’s from the comfort of your couch.

There’s no need to sell everything and go minimalistic. Don’t fret if Marie Kondo minimalism is not for you. A little creativity to do something different will suffice.

Final Thoughts

Traditional family values aren’t dead. Because we are spending more time together than we ever imagined, it’s arguable that values are alive now more than ever in contemporary modern society.

I encourage you to take time to reflect on the things you think are important and allow for a special time to spend with your kids. Bonus points if you’re a little weird by keeping traditional values alive.

How is your family weird? Embrace it to foster deeper connections.