Today as we were coming home from the markets I asked Mick if he had any ideas he thought would be good for this blog.
‘Turn off the TV,’ he said.
Now don’t misunderstand, neither of us is against TV. We have our favorite shows. At the moment, when it’s non rating period in Australia, we’re watching Eli Stone which is not compelling but quirky enough to be interesting. Plus we both like lawyer shows.
But most nights our TV is off and we spend time together, talking, playing games and listening to music. Settlers of Catan is our favorite game, and has been since our adult son introduced it to us several years back. Our family has always been big on playing games, Monopoly, Cluedo, Yahtzee, Rummikub, Poleconomy, Squatter, Upwords, Scrabble or card games like 500, Hearts etc.
The best thing about playing games with your spouse and your family is the talk that goes on around the table.
Communication is essential in marriage and a family. But to gather everyone together off the computer or video games or away from the TV and say we’re going to talk brings the response, ‘What do you want to talk about?’
Then everyone usually sits there like stunned mullets. But if a family used to turning off the TV and playing games together, it builds a great chance to get to know each other better.
To show you how much our whole family is into games, the other day we received a text from our daughter and her husband, who are overseas in a third world country on a short term mission. It was their day off and what where they doing? They were playing Settlers of Catan with friends, while Mick and I were playing it that night at home.
The other pace I always found helpful for talking especially when our kids became teenagers was in the car. Some of our most intimate conversations about love, marriage and how to know if someone is the right one, have taken place in the car.
So, why not try turning of the TV and making time together to play games or go for a drive together and see if it doesn’t improve communication between you and your spouse and you and your family.
Please visit these related blogs
Secrets of Long Lasting Marriages
Having Trouble Talking to Your Teen: Try the Car