Essential Takeaway: play
My husband and I both came from families that love to play games. We now have the unspoken family tradition of playing one (or more) games together on Sunday afternoons. Often, I dread this tradition! The kids fight so much and it seems they will never learn to get along. I’m not sure how, but somehow I got the idea that family traditions are beautiful, perfect, bonding and loving experiences. I forget that raising kids is messy work. That down in the trenches things don’t always go according to the perfect vision. However, it is important to continually try. I recently read a talk by Robert D Hales given in April 1999. He says ” Strengthening families is our sacred duty as parents, children, extended family members, leaders, teachers, and individual members of the Church.” In that talk he mentioned several amazing secrets to raising kids. One of them is ” Build family traditions. Plan and carry out meaningful vacations together, considering our children’s needs, talents, and abilities. Help them create happy memories, improve their talents, and build their feelings of self-worth.” We are on a real vacation! This very meaningful and intentionally planned vacation includes several opportunities to play games, share talents, and increase in testimony of the restored gospel. I am grateful for family traditions and a husband that insists we make family a priority.
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