Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Scheduling Family Time

We have a wonderful relationship with all of our kids. I talk to my daughter every day and my son at least a couple of times a week through e-mail, text or phone. Tresa and her husband Chris live in Chicago, about an hour from us...Michael and Bernadette live about 35 minutes from us. I even talk to Matt out in Colorado a few times a week.

Phone calls and texts and e-mails are a great way to stay in touch, but it isn't the same as seeing people in person....and that we don't do enough. So, right before Christmas I e-mailed the kids and told them that I would like to start having some regular, scheduled family get togethers. I knew they would think I was nuts, but I'm not. We all work full time and the time we have on the weekends is used for the usual cleaning, shopping, laundry and other errands. Who has time to get together?

I thought the best way to do it would be for us to schedule it! It's ridiculous that we have to do that, but I really felt it was the only way.

So, this coming Sunday, Irv and I are hosting breakfast at our house and I can't wait! The plan is that every 4 or 5 weeks one us will play host. We can just meet at one of our houses for a meal, we can go out, we can do whatever the hosts want to do. I envision visits to the city (Chicago), some museums, some great dinners, walks along the lake front, movies and maybe even some kayaking this summer.

Do you find it hard to find time to get together with your adult children or extended family? How do you manage it?

18 comments:

The Reader said...

We live out of the country, so we fully rely on email, phone calls, skype calls w/video, etc. And then we have a once/year trip home where we cram in as much face time as possible with all the many branches of family...that's hard. As the "adult children" in the equation, and with 2 sets of divorced parents to see....it gets busy. Insanely busy. But we do it, because maintaining those grandparent relations for our kids is worth it (and of course seeing our parents ourselves...).

It is hard, though, and I'm very, very, VERY glad we have skype for the in-between times.

Lanyardlady said...

It is hard when everyone is scattered and busy. I hope your scheduling works and you have many happy hours together.

Unknown said...

I think it's great you keep in touch so often. Our kids are still in Iowa, fairly close. So we get to see them.

Is that Bernadette with the red vest and scarf on? I have that same scarf!

Have a good day!

Nancy

Cathryn said...

It's hard for us to schedule time with family--my family is scattered everywhere and D's family is equally scattered. So we just visit when we can and deal with it the best we can. I talk to my son every week and while phone calls aren't the best way--it's better than nothing!

jdavissquared said...

It's so hard to get together with family! I agree. Our parents (all four sets of them) live within 30 minutes of us, yet we hardly ever see them! it's really sad actually.
I should start planning some get togethers. That's a really good idea.

Ms Sparrow said...

The family get-togethers get harder all the time. My daughter lives about 20 minutes from here but with the family work and activity schedules, it has become really difficult. For the whole bunch of us, we have to plan months in advance.

Bluebell said...

Things have changed so much I remember when families stayed really close to each other and my Moms house was always busy with one of us popping in and on Sundays we would have High Tea and everyone would visit it was bedlam but great. My kids are not too far away and we try to get together as much as we can and the phone and texting helps, everyone is so busy these days.
Have fun with your family
Love Jillxx

T.Allen said...

Our nest isn't empty yet *swallows bowling ball in throat at the thought of an empty nest*, but I imagine we'll have to set up some kind of schedule as well. That's an awesome idea.

We are Native NYers living in AZ, everyone else is still in NYC. Years pass between visits, it's hard but we're in the throes of the busiest part of our lives with children still at home and our own businessed. I'm going to make an effort to get more family time in, you're right it is important.

Anonymous said...

My neighbors do this with their kids--they make events every other month and it always looks like a great time!

Sherry said...

I think it's so lovely, and once you start it, I'm sure it will be a regular thing.

I read an interesting article about people saying they are "busy" Busy is always about things not people, and it changed my way of thinking about it.

I can almost smell the pancakes!
xoSherry

matt said...

Sounds great. i will host the first one. See you this weekend, better start driving now!!

Together We Save said...

It is so hard to schedule family time... we like to try a couple of different times during the year, my grandmother's birthday ect... try not to schedule to much at Christmas, everyone is to busy.

Holly (me.) said...

Sadly, I admit that we schedule one-on-one and family times now. And our children are not grown. Which actually explains why the mister and I would need to calendar together time...

Love this idea for when my own lovies are adults!

Oklahoma Granny said...

Our daughter lives just around the corner from us (1 1/2 miles away) so we see her family pretty often. I talked to our son almost every day on the phone and we have Skype too. He and his family live in Oklahoma City (about 185 miles from us). We only see them about once every 3 or 4 months which isn't nearly enough as far as I'm concerned.

Beth Anderson said...

I love your pictures - what a handsome family.
Yes I have trouble scheduling my 23 year old son who lives 30 minutes away - impossible! I'm sure it will change as he get's a little older and wiser.
Good for you!

Matty said...

You have a great looking family.

I share your situation with my own three grown children and their families. Everyone is so busy living their own lives, with jobs, kids, and this and that. It's difficult to find the time to get together. If I have the time, my kids don't, and when they're available, I'm not.

They all live 40-55 minutes away from me. I usually just call and ask when a good time is to come visit, and occasionally but not often I'll just pop in as a surprise. My grandchildren always enjoy seeing pop-pop show up.

I think your breakfast idea is great. Hopefully, it is something that everyone will strive to continue.

jdavissquared said...

Hey Kathy!

First and foremost, I love my Mac because I'm a graphic designer by trade. It really is the best for graphics. Other than that, it is just more user friendly. Things are where you would think they should be and everything just works seamlessly.

They are most definitely more expensive. I wouldn't be able to justify it if I couldn't use it for work. In all honesty, if you're just looking for something to surf the web, manage your etsy and do the basics, you're probably fine with a pc. {especially since I know your watching your money!}

It's hard to explain why people love them, but once you have a mac, you never go back. haha.

Hope you're having a great night!

Angela said...

Great idea!! Things just aren't the way they use to be and if you have plan it, you just have to plan it!

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