Happy Family.

So I LOVED this lesson, it is a little bit happier than the last few, well I think so but I find it to be great! This lesson focused on work at home and wholesome family activities. The first chapter I want to just touch on was titled, "The Meanings and Blessings of Family Work." I really liked that the author of this chapter started with talking about Adam and Eve and when they left the Garden of Eden they had to work to sustain themselves and make a shelter and find food. The book said this on family work, "Family work provides endless opportunities to recognize and fill other's needs."
I know we all love (HATE) chores but secretly our parents were teaching us very valuable lessons by making us vacuum the stairs and clean the dog poop up. As we work together as families to keep a home clean, we gain more respect for the place where we live and we also learn the value of work and how important it is in our lives.
Each week I have a group that I meet with a group about different lesson activities we did to go with the lesson, and within this week's lesson we talked about how you can definitely tell the difference between children who were taught to work from a young age and those who were not accepted to do so in their families. Those chores and jobs parents had us do while growing up, really taught us the value of a dollar with allowance and also how important it is to contribute in the family.
The book also gave me a short history reminder on how men started leaving home and working in factories and so did children, which left all the work to mom at home (thanks a lot)! This was a big problem in the 1900's but I think it has gotten better because growing up my parents still had jobs but at home we all did our chores on Saturday.
Family work has definitely changed from everything being at home like schooling and growing and raising all of our foods, but it still is important to work with the house you have. Some people may have to do farm work and others may need to do yard work, dust their rooms and help clean the other areas in the house. As we work together we learn respect for the house our parents worked very hard to have for us and we gain respect for our parents and each other. I have learned through my parents, my husband and this chapter that teaching our children chores and the value of work,and getting a job is important to not only help the family but start saving to help future families.
I am going to close in just a small blurp on family recreation (this is the fun part of the lesson). The book siad this on family recreation, "Wholesome family recreation can help us strengthen our relationships and reduce negative emotional and spiritual consequences. Wholesome recreation strengthen families." There was a lot from this chapter but what I got is that family time is VERY important! Wholesome recreation helps stregthen bonds with children and spouses. Activities where we are doing things together and as families is how we strengthen relationships. One person playing video games and the other on their phone but in the same room "watching  a movie" does NOT count as wholesome recreation. Family time helps builds bonds and brings marriages closer together. One form of this is FHE, focus on putting away the phones and focusing on each other. The book said this on children and activities, "As adolescents develop their own identities, they evaluate personal experiences, interests, and skills. Varied, diverse, fun, and non-threatening recreational experiences help adolescents identify activities they enjoy."
Go on vacations, go to the park, go camping, watch a good movie, eat dinner together. These things help children grow and learn the value of relationships and families. If we do things together as a family and put away the distractions of the world, we come to realize what is really important in this world. I have taken my own little spin on this chapter but I have a testimony of the importance of family time and know that as we take time to sit down and talk with one another, relationship and memories are born.
My husband and I have started a summer bucket list (which I need to write down and stick on our fridge) to do with each other this summer and we will continue to make them throughout our marriage for not just the summer. The bucket list will grow with more time and funds. My point being is, start with a bucket list, sit down with your spouse or family and make a list of things that EVERYONE wants to do. Not everyone has to agree on the activities but don;t just pick ones that some people like, let each person choose a few.
My greatest memories with my families are road trips and times when it was just us and now my husband and I are building those memories and it is so fun when you are with the ones you love, without the distractions of work, school and life, where you can enjoy each other and have fun with family! I hope my rant wasn't too bad and I want to hear your bucket list... we may need some more ideas!
Happy day and Happy Saturday!