From Dr. Jane's Notebook


The fine art of family reunions


            Family reunions and family gatherings can be wonderfully renewing or emotionally draining. One way or the other, they are always a lot of work. Because people often have great expectations for the holidays, it’s a good idea to think it out ahead of time. Here are a few of my thoughts on the matter.

             Now for the indoor activities… In the effort to improve communication and playfulness this holiday, I recommend that you assemble an arts and crafts table in the room where people will gather after the meal. Nothing fancy; just regular paper, construction paper, crayons and whatever office supplies you have around the house. Then find out what happens when you casually invite people to use these materials to make holiday cards, draw pictures, or just be creative. And if you have more room, load up another table with a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle or games like Scrabble or Monopoly. These activities have a way of bringing together young and old and they provide new opportunities for family bonding. Getting the crowd to communicate may be easier than you thought. If you happen to try any of these suggestions and want to share your results, I’d love to hear from you at Hamburgersquare@bellsouth.net Best wishes to all for the holiday season!

©Copyright, 2007, Jane R. Rosen-Grandon. All rights reserved.            

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