Take time for your family.

We want you to have more time with your family, so we offer fun crafts and family walks. It’s as simple as turning off your phone.

It has been a difficult year for many. There are silver linings. B was at my friend’s house the other day and said she loved quarantine because it allowed for more family time. My mom’s guilt made me believe I was neglecting my baby while I was in quarantine for the first few months. As we settle into our new routine and my schedule picks up, I’ve begun to think about ways to spend more time with my family.

Here are some ways to make time for your family

Get your phone down.

This is the one I am most concerned about. It’s not clear why I feel the need for social media and emails to be refreshed 100 times per day. It is something I need to stop. B is just 8 years old and already calls us to say, “Please be present”, and “put your phone down.” She is right. The meme that showed our children we love them was 5% and 95%, respectively.

Enjoy a family mealtime together.

We aim to have dinner together at least five nights per week, if not every evening. We all share our lows and highs during the meal. This is a great way for your children to share their day. B also asked me who she sat next to at lunch because I understood the importance of mealtimes. You may feel like you’ve cooked a million meals this year. Doorstep Meals is a great delivery service for those days when you don’t have the time or want to cook.

Doorstep Meals takes care of all the details so you can spend time with your family. These were the things I loved most about these meals.

• Simple ordering process. You can order by Friday at 9 p.m. and receive your fresh meals by Tuesday.
• Variety – They offer over 30 healthy choices, including everything from steak and shrimp to pasta. Our favourites include the Backyard BBQ bowl and any Cowboy butter-based dish. Although my husband isn’t a huge fan of vegetables, the meal seasonings almost convinced him to eat them. They come in two sizes to find the right amount for your family.
• Healthy Options – I avoid premade meals as they are often full of preservatives. Every week, a chef makes Doorstep Meals. They are then flash frozen to preserve nutrients. All meals have been carefully prepared by doctors and contain no preservatives.
• Pre-Bio Cookies – These chocolate chip cookies are so amazing that you wouldn’t know they were all about gut health. They are gluten-free and contain no preservatives or refined sugars. They contain 2000mg of prebiotic fibres per cookie.

Homework Time

Although I used to hate homework, I have begun to see it as an opportunity to catch up and do schoolwork. You can also learn about your child’s day by helping them with homework. B loves to share stories, like the one she shared in science class today. This has helped me identify her strengths and areas she needs additional support. This helps us to understand how we can support our children.

Exercise together

Family walks and bike rides are my favourite pastimes. It allows us to all get away from our phones and allow us to enjoy the outdoors together. We have found that games such as Just Dance and taking an online Zumba class can be fun ways for everyone to exercise on rainy days.

Explore Your Town

We try to find a new place for our family to visit once a month. There are many options, from parks to beaches. These adventures are great for the whole family, including our dog. It’s a win-win situation when we choose a park to take our family on a walk.

Together

It may be that you read to your children when they are young. Later, they may start reading to you. As they age, you might both be reading the same book in the same room.

You can cook, bake, or craft together.

Find out what interests you and your children, then join them in the activity. We love to cook (more baking) and do DIY projects together.

Volunteer

All that we do is be watched by our children. Volunteering is an important part of my life. Our daughter was there this year. You can volunteer at soup kitchens or do letter-writing campaigns from your home. Recently, we joined a letter-writing campaign for patients at our local hospital who cannot receive visitors.

Decorate

We love decorating our home with fun DIYs and creating themed treats.

Family Nights Fun

There are many ways to make family time more special, from movie nights to board games to movie nights.