ARE YOU REALLY CONNECTED WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS? OR JUST STAYING TOGETHER AND SHARING ROOF……..?

If somebody asked you, what is family? What will be your answer? Just think for a second and see what answer you get it in your mind. This answer will reflect your involvement/connectivity/attachment with your family. For me, family is a precious gift from Almighty.

Family system in our society: -

Nuclear family: - Husband, wife, children (Max members 4 or 5)

Joint family (Relatively small):- Grandparents, Parents, Siblings, Spouse, Parents in Law, Kids (Max Members 6 to 10)

Joint family (Relatively large):- Grandparents, Parents, Siblings, Spouse, Parents in Law, Kids, Uncle, aunty, cousin (Max Members 10 to 14)

Present situation/ daily routine:-

If you observe present situation, you can find that we are so busy in our work, may be in office, in studies or in some other activities that we are not having time for our own people. We are very much struck in our own world in such a way that we cannot attend our children, parents or grandparents; we are not having time to listen to their problems or enjoy things together. We don’t know what is happening in life of our family members.

See the matrix below and assess yourself in terms of quality time spend with your family:-

Attributes	Yes or No
Do you leave home after 9:00AM in the morning for work?
Do your children get up before you leave in the morning for office?
Do you meet your parents before going?
Do you have time to take enough breakfast?
In office, do you have time to call your wife to say that u reached office safely?
During lunch hour, do you have time to call your home for some casual talk?
Do you reach home in the evening?
Do you spend some time with your parents and children and inquire about their day?
Do you watch TV or devote time for your hobby?
Do you spend weekend with   family?
Do you know when your children are having their exams?
Do you take your parents for health checkups?
Do you take your family for   picnic, movie or present at home on every function?

This list is only indicative not exhaustive. If your maximum answers are NO then you are not having work life balance. There is strong need to interact with your family otherwise your will be left alone someday and you are failing on your duties.

So please, get a wakeup call and give time to your most precious people. Believe me your people love you; they need ur time and attention.

How to connect?

See, here are some easy, simple activities to do together with family members to stay connected with them:-

Dinner: - Make sure that all members of the family should take their dinner together. It’s a famous proverb that “the family who eat together stay together”. Try to avoid any call and avoid television also. Just sit together and have dinner.

Games: - Try to take out some time from your busy schedule (probably after dinner or late in the evening) to play indoor games like carom, cards, business or play station etc. It is the easiest way to share time and fun with children.  

TV watching/Movie: - At least watch any one of the TV soap which everybody likes together.

Picnic: - What an idea. Just go for a picnic somewhere nearby and relax.

Family function: - Try to attend all family functions with your family with full enthusiasm.

What you can get out of this?

Of course the most important, a sense of great satisfaction. Your family will be happy. You will be connected with your spouse, children and parents. You will be more active and happy. You will understand the thinking of your children, can take care of parents and at the same time you will learn amazing things from all these people.

So just CONNECT WITH THE FAMILY AND BECOME THE ROLE MODEL for others.

Do not forget to share tips to others for keeping their family happy.