These days, everyone seems so busy that it can be hard to find time for family activities whether they are weekend trips, week long vacations, gathering for lunch or dinner, or even just brief visits. Home For The Holidays. is more than a popular phrase. For most people it’s an integral part of the season. It is a quiet indicator of how important family ties are regarded.
Committing to be with parents, siblings, children, and extended and blended family members communicates with actions that these people are important and worth the effort involved in making the journey. They are the people who know everything about us and accept us anyway. In spite of stressful times, family loyalty is a powerful connection. The feast is integral to the tradition. The entire family, or as many as can, sit at the table during dinner and offer thanks and prayers to the Almighty. It is also a time for relatives living in different places to come together, share this special meal, and celebrate.
Benefits of family holidays
To know each other: Often, the holiday season also brings an awareness of a change in a loved one’s capabilities. Family members may notice tasks that used to bring joy are now overwhelming. Keep in mind that more individuals are reluctant to ask for help. Be proactive and help the seniors in your life take appropriate action. For example, adult children should have the talk.
Don’t wait for an emergency or crisis to happen before talking to aging parents. Many times seniors struggle with how to tell their children what’s really going on in their lives. Likewise there are many topics that seniors themselves should begin discussing with their children and other loved ones. Many aging issues can be solved by providing a loved one with the support he or she needs.
For successful family life: Gatherings with your relatives may be more important than you think. Familial encounters not only provide positive experiences, but also can play a large role in successful and happy life. Face-to-face contact provides the contextual part of what it means to be family.
People who cultivate extended family relationships are at an advantage emotionally and are often more successful in their personal lives. Both children and adults benefit from these relationships during times of great stress, such as tragedy, death or divorce. They also reap the rewards when joyous events enter their lives, whether it is a new job, a new child or a milestone birthday.
To maintain the interpersonal relationship: Even though technology allows families to keep in touch and share personal milestones more easily, nothing replaces the experience of actually gathering in the same room with family. Sometimes there is a sense of something missing if you do not have face-to-face contact. In-person contact gives you the ability to discern subtle nuances and cues in other people. Body language and gestures say a lot.
And touch is very, very important, especially for the very young and very old. Family trips are a great way to get to know family members more deeply and to spend some quality time together outside of our normal routine interactions in our day to day lives. No matter how simple or extravagant the vacation, the act of getting together with relatives and doing things together strengthens family relationships. The benefits of close family relationships extend far beyond the good times that are shared during family outings.
Every family should plan for family holidays and they should also be careful to not avoid any member of the family in such a holiday. It should be considered a rare opportunity to strengthen the affection and attachment between the members of the family by talking each other, eating together and enjoying together.
