I have to admit, I can't really take credit for building the fun into our meal time team. I give Drew and Dean credit for that. All my kids love music (and I do take credit for that as well as a big thank you to their music director, Mr. Miller) and because our den computer is right next to the kitchen, if Dean or Drew were on clean up duty after supper, they would start iTunes and crank up the music to help them "endure" the pain and suffering we were inflicting on them. Typically at least two, if not all three boys had some role to play after dinner to help clean up. We sort of have this unwritten rule that if you prepare dinner, you shouldn't have to do much of the cleaning. The one who violates the rule the most is my husband Mark, who often willingly does both. But he is the saint in our home and the rest of us haven't yet reached this level of unselfishness. :)
So the music is blaring and Micah, at five, was learning to sing and dance to "I love Rock N Roll" instead of Twinkle Little Star but the camaraderie and joy makes it worth it. (We practiced Twinkle Little Star between meals.) And Grant, at 12, was seeing his older brothers make the best of a less than desirable (in an adolescent boy's mind) situation.
I'm thankful to Mr. Miller for helping our sons have an appreciation of all kinds of music. We do have a rule that no heavy metal or inappropriate lyrics can be blaring through the house. But thanks to Mr. Miller's encouragement, enjoying all kinds of music has never been a problem. They might choose a Disney movie sound track, Les Miserable sound track, Weird Al, a new artist I'd never heard of, a recording from the Sing-Off or some of their favorite Christian or pop songs. I have discovered some wonderful artists through them that I would probably otherwise never have known of without our "after dinner music."
What would make this time fun in your home? It might be music. Maybe it's the time when you listen to an audio book together and you can't listen any other time except when you are working together in the kitchen. (I know people who motivate themselves to exercise this way because they can't wait to see how it ends.) Or DVR a favorite show and watch while you are washing and drying and only then. We also love to blare Joseph Prince and imitate him when he says his words funny or repeat in our best Asian accent "Hallelujah". (Dean has it down perfectly). Maybe its the time to rehash the last big game or make up knock knock jokes. It could be the perfect time for some games like I Spy, Name 10 Things That Are... or Twenty Questions. How about dreaming together: If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go? If you had a million dollars, what would you do?
We are bombarded with distractions that take family members to their separate corners, often with their eyes on an electronic device. The more time we can spend with each other, instead of in proximity to each other, the healthier our family will be. The times we spend working together are just as valuable as the times we spend playing together, possibly more. When we make work fun, we receive an extra blessing! We all hear report after report indicating the benefit to families to eat dinner together. How much more so when the family meal become a family event where every member plays a vital role.
Rather than trying to figure out how to carve out more family time, take some time to think about how to carve out more family involvement into what is already being done. The benefits are incredible and you will be so glad you did! Plus when you all work together, you create more time and energy and money (less eating out) for the fun stuff!
Enjoy this YouTube video that went viral! This boy totally gets that helping in the kitchen can be fun! (Sneaky mom with the video but now that he's famous, maybe he's okay with it!) In our family, singing is more prevalent than dancing. Guess it's time to set up the hidden camera!
So the music is blaring and Micah, at five, was learning to sing and dance to "I love Rock N Roll" instead of Twinkle Little Star but the camaraderie and joy makes it worth it. (We practiced Twinkle Little Star between meals.) And Grant, at 12, was seeing his older brothers make the best of a less than desirable (in an adolescent boy's mind) situation.
I'm thankful to Mr. Miller for helping our sons have an appreciation of all kinds of music. We do have a rule that no heavy metal or inappropriate lyrics can be blaring through the house. But thanks to Mr. Miller's encouragement, enjoying all kinds of music has never been a problem. They might choose a Disney movie sound track, Les Miserable sound track, Weird Al, a new artist I'd never heard of, a recording from the Sing-Off or some of their favorite Christian or pop songs. I have discovered some wonderful artists through them that I would probably otherwise never have known of without our "after dinner music."
What would make this time fun in your home? It might be music. Maybe it's the time when you listen to an audio book together and you can't listen any other time except when you are working together in the kitchen. (I know people who motivate themselves to exercise this way because they can't wait to see how it ends.) Or DVR a favorite show and watch while you are washing and drying and only then. We also love to blare Joseph Prince and imitate him when he says his words funny or repeat in our best Asian accent "Hallelujah". (Dean has it down perfectly). Maybe its the time to rehash the last big game or make up knock knock jokes. It could be the perfect time for some games like I Spy, Name 10 Things That Are... or Twenty Questions. How about dreaming together: If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go? If you had a million dollars, what would you do?
We are bombarded with distractions that take family members to their separate corners, often with their eyes on an electronic device. The more time we can spend with each other, instead of in proximity to each other, the healthier our family will be. The times we spend working together are just as valuable as the times we spend playing together, possibly more. When we make work fun, we receive an extra blessing! We all hear report after report indicating the benefit to families to eat dinner together. How much more so when the family meal become a family event where every member plays a vital role.
Rather than trying to figure out how to carve out more family time, take some time to think about how to carve out more family involvement into what is already being done. The benefits are incredible and you will be so glad you did! Plus when you all work together, you create more time and energy and money (less eating out) for the fun stuff!
Enjoy this YouTube video that went viral! This boy totally gets that helping in the kitchen can be fun! (Sneaky mom with the video but now that he's famous, maybe he's okay with it!) In our family, singing is more prevalent than dancing. Guess it's time to set up the hidden camera!
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