2005 Year in Review

National Family Week is November 20-26

Source: Patti Faughn, Family Life Educator, 217/782-6515

During the week of Thanksgiving, National Family Week will be celebrating it’s 37th year. The theme is Connections Count. As you gather with your family or special loved ones this year, Patti Faughn, Family Life Educator with University of Illinois reminds you to take time to reflect on and celebrate your connections with each other. Are there places you’ve been together, things you’ve accomplished together, history or hard times you’ve lived through together? What do you appreciate in each other? Maybe it’s the way you make time for each other. Maybe it’s just the little things you know to do for each other. How do you keep your connections strong in our fast pace society?

Here are some suggestions for celebrating the connections you have with your family:

- Celebrate with a special dinner. Prepare a menu that includes at least one favorite dish of each family member. Include the children in preparing their favorite dish. If cooking is a chore, go out to a favorite restaurant. End with a toast for something you appreciate in each other or something special done for each other over the past year.
- Take turns telling a favorite family story or memory.
- Ask each one to share at least one thing he or she loves to do. Decide if some of these activities would be fun to do together as a family.
- Take time to plan together a special vacation for the coming year.
- Looking over the past year, share your high and low of the year. Looking at the coming year, share a concern and an excitement.
- Join hands in a prayer of thanksgiving or singing a favorite song.
- Play a game, work a puzzle, or take a walk together.
- Build a campfire and roast hot dogs or marshmallows.
- Prepare and enjoy a favorite snack.
- Have a talent show and videotape the participants. Make copies for everyone.
- Celebrate your family’s history. Visit old neighborhoods or places you grew up as a young child. Learn about your family’s roots.
- Have a potluck meal inviting your relatives. Ask everyone to bring a favorite dish and a favorite photograph or story. After the meal, have a time for sharing your memories. Don’t forget to share special memories of those who have died.
- Write, call or visit elderly family members who are unable to join you. Take or send them a gift or card. Share any impact they have had on your life. Have them tell your family what life was like when they were growing up.

Taking the time to celebrate your family can enrich your connections with each other. Family members will remember these times, and you will be creating traditions for future generations.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
November 13, 2005