I recently implemented the idea of holding family dinners twice monthly. The idea was to provide an opportunity for the local family members to get together, share good food and hopefully good company.
I have no illusions-I know it may be near impossible to bring all my loved ones into one location at a dedicated time when everyone is so busy, myself included.
I am prepared to hear all the excuses they may have to offer. But, I’m ready for these with preset responses; “I work also, Everyone is tired - this might make you feel connected and re-juvenated, ( Our dinners are on Sunday afternoons), If you are so exhausted you can nap either before or after dinner and I will watch the kids. Same for the tiny humans, they may nap also. Don’t have enough gas? Carpool with another family member or I will pick you up. Not hungry? Come for the company.
This is your family. If you don’t want to eat, sit with us anyway and have a cup of coffee and I will make you a to-go box when you’re ready to go home.”
The point is, time with your loved ones is important and finite. We all have an expiration date so it is important not to assume tomorrow will be there.
As a full-fledged member of the sandwich generation I feel compelled to balance the happiness, moral and generational responsibilities of caring for my aging parents and young grandchildren.
Family dinners are for all of us, but mostly for them. I want them to get to know one another. They all know me, but it is important to provide as many opportunities for communion between the generations as possible.
“ Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory “. Dr. Seuss.
Image Credits: Wikipedia Norman Rockwell
John Burns Realtors multigenerational
Kovodelementarycarpool
