Michael Canzian - 5 Simple Ways to Spend Quality Time with Your Family

 

Michael Canzian -Dad with new immigrants to USA

The best thing in life is family. A bond that is stronger than any other bond–an irreplaceable bond that clearly defines the essence of a family. Spending time with them will always be a priority as they are the people who encourage and inspire me in every aspect of my life. A simple thing such as cooking or hanging out at the beach fosters the closest bonds of all. It is in those moments that we realize how much we value one another. Indeed, the pandemic impacted us all in various ways. Despite the negative aspects, it also made way for self- reflection and togetherness. The pandemic also allowed us to reconnect with long forgotten hobbies and interest, or catching up on those books that have been sitting on your nightstand for months collecting dust.  Most importantly we reaffirmed our understanding of whom and what we hold most dear in life- family. 

 

Cooking and eating together

One of my passions is cooking.  Hence, I consider cooking for and with my family as a way to nurture our bond and family roots. It also comes naturally to me given that I have Italian roots; food is a big part of our tradition. It is our practice to pass recipes from generation to generation. Cooking is a way for us to be there for each other–we had our roles in the kitchen which gave us that sense of being united. It is an activity that gives us plenty of time to work together while chatting about life. Cooking requires a great deal of patience at times; especially when experimenting on a new recipe.  But experimenting together is even more meaningful given that it opens the opportunity for deeper personal interaction toward a common goal.  

 

Of course, once we’ve finished cooking together, we must also eat the food we’ve made together. This is the time where we get to communicate the most; checking up on each other, sharing life updates, and revisiting old memories. Eating together lets us unite over common experiences and future food memories.  Food certainly promotes intimacy as the delicious taste and aroma of food puts us on the same page.

 

Going for a walk after dinner

The famous “Passeggiata” in Italian.  There’s something about after-dinner walks that keep relationships strong. The ambiance of the night and the feeling of fullness prompts us to be our best version of ourselves. The night allows for deep conversations–something that every family needs. Kids, especially teens, tend to keep certain details to themselves, so letting them feel that family is a “safe space” will help them feel more willing to open up.

 

Cleaning the house together

Cleaning the house is a lengthy process that reveals a person’s good and bad sides. Sorting messy rooms and cleaning dirty bathrooms are both frustrating aspects of doing general household cleaning. This often leads to continuous bickering on who will do which task. On the other hand, this also presents the opportunity for helping each other go through a tiring task and make it enjoyable. Doing this every now and then will allow a family to strengthen its bond.

 

Fixing things together

Similar to cleaning the house together, fixing something requires patience. Children love the idea of building or fixing things as it brings out their crafty and creative sides. It makes them feel involved in the process, which puts them in a good mood as they naturally look for that sense of belonging. They also feel more responsible given that they would want to succeed or finish what they have started. Surely, fixing things together is a great way to interact with your children

 

Having a family day

Going out as a family is one of the best ways to have fun together while developing that special bond. Great ideas for a family day include going on a picnic, traveling to various venues, spending time at the park, biking together, or visiting a new shop. This promotes various opportunities for a family to find joy in simple things. Almost everyone also loves the idea of exploring a new place, so this is definitely a great idea.

 

In our family, we always work to strengthen our bond and make each other feel loved and appreciated. One of our special places is Pawley’s Island, SC where we spend quality time on the beach and the local shops and restaurants.  Surfing, swimming, exploring, and engaging with our friends are always part of the fun. This is something that we do as often as possible and has become part of our family fabric, and another home away from home. Indeed, when a family gets to identify the common things that they enjoy doing together, then those are the times one remembers the most.    – Michael Canzian