Better Than Before

James and I have talked a lot lately about the status of our family.  We have become very complacent with the status quo.  As a whole, we're spending more time watching television and playing video games than spending time as a family.  When we do spend time together, we bicker (kids with each other, us with each other (some), and us with the hormonal teenager(s).)   It's unhealthy.  It's unpleasant.  It's just not fun.

And family should be fun - at least most of the time.

When the kids were younger, we'd find stuff to do on weekends.  Parks.  Hikes.  Playgrounds.  And, of course, there was the fact that they were all in recreational/select team sports, which equivocated to never being home.  We'd spend our weekends at ball parks.  I'd squeeze in a run, usually between games. 

But, as they've gotten older, it was inevitable that slow or stop.  They're getting to old for recreational sports.  Sure, two of them are wrestling for their schools this year.  In fact, this weekend we've got two separate wrestling tournaments - on opposite ends of the county.  James and I will not see each other most of tomorrow, and there is the question of what to do with the younger two.

You see, Nathaniel has a huge Social Studies project due Monday, that he needs the weekend to wrap up.  Carter is, well, Carter and would rather be home where he can piddle in the tree house he's designed and built in the back yard.   And, it's really hard to justify spending $10 per kid to have to force them to sit in bleachers all day.  Because, I kid you not, that's what parents do at wrestling tournaments.  It's a lot of sitting and waiting.

Anyway!  Didn't mean to go off on that tangent.

The result of the discussion was that there are some things that we need to change/improve upon in order to move toward a happier household.  We typed up a TEN page document, outlining what we expect.  What we're willing to do, what we think they should be willing to do.  We made six copies.  We went over it at dinner last night.  And, we've given them until Sunday to review, discuss, and prepare to propose any changes they feel strongly about (as long as their proposals are presented in a mature manner.)

Some of the things we're doing:   Starting a family "book club."  After we finish the book, we're going to come up with a family activity, relating to the book we read, and go do that.  We're starting a Family Fitness Day, where once a quarter we're going to run either a 5K or 10K as a family.   We have written out what we actually expect of their daily chores - so we are all clear of the expectations.  We've written out what we expect of them with their school work, with their fitness/activity levels, etc.

I can only hope this brings positive changes to our family.

WOD:  Thrusters:  Max Rep (3min)   400M Run   (Rest)   Snatches:  Max Rep (3min)   400M Run (Rest)
Double/Single Unders (3 min)  400M run.     Score:   119(S)