Family Time

I proclaim it Mandatory Family Time!

Mandatory Family Time (MFT) must only be used in extreme cases. If called upon too frequently the power of this ruling becomes diluted and the impact is greatly decreased. To evoke MFT, a mom must be fully prepared face some resistance. A mom must remember to stay true to the ruling – do not wavier – for the promise of a favorable outcome waits.

One of the most common times for a MFT is end of the school year. I like to plan a long weekend get away for our family. We target places that are within a day drive (8 -10 hours maximum) that I have always wanted to visit. It is important to remember, the MFT is not something a family willingly enters into so you have to establish full control. I generally state: “We can go here and do this OR we can go there and do that”. I allow them to decide but I always have choices from which they may select. Left to their own accord, we would do nothing.

The ultimate goal for a MFT is to remove children from the roles they feel they need to play at school and with their friends. It is the gift of release after a highly stressful time. The MFT allows a brother and sister time to reconnect, in a car, during a long drive. It allows a brother and sister time to reconnect, because they have no friends to hang out with at the hotel or in some cases, a Bed and Breakfast. It allows a brother and sister time to doing geeky, childish things that they secretly enjoy but their friends would never want to do (visit a zoo, museum, ride Maid of Mist or do a ‘ghost’ walking tour).

Success can be measured in the drive home. If a brother and sisters are laughing, whispering, and generally ganging up on their poor defenseless parents – the mission has been successful. The brother and sister have bonded again. As an added benefit, all of the confined time together allows parents a chance to explore the young adults their children are growing into. So far, so good – we like who are children are becoming!

Earlier this week I used my maternal power to call a rare, one day only: Mandatory Family Time. Our family is so busy with school, sports, work, and extra curricular activities that we are not able to have a weekday meal together. Over time, the stress on our family manifests into selfishness. We stop thinking of each other as a family because we are too focused on our own personal albatross (this reference is an English Literature test for the reader). This is a clear indicator that a MFT is needed.

So we spent yesterday (Saturday) together as a family. We went to a movie together (and let recent driver’s training graduate Maddy drive us there!) At the end of the night everyone was telling stories and sharing a little bit about their life. We were talking and the MFT was a success!

Assignment: Google English Literature and Albatross to find the poem I am referencing.