Also included…

By now, you’ve heard from the females of the family…it’s time to hear from the men of the family.  When I first heard the idea for this blog, I thought it was a great idea for a few reasons:

1) it would allow me to recapture some of the opportunities to bond that were lost to Covid and the lockdowns/restrictions we’ve all been subject to over the last year.  This is good for my older children, as I’ll have less opportunities to forge those bonds as time goes by.  However, it is also a good opportunity to create lasting memories with my younger children while they’re still so young (and before I get too old).

2) this is also a chance for Lauren and I to strengthen our partnership in very meaningful ways.  It is up to both of us to foster a thriving family.  However, over time some of that has been lost to excessive screen time and more “mental” social distancing within our house.

3) the activities we’ll be doing will give good experiences for our youngest son.  As the youngest, he has certain advantages over his older sisters.  However, as the only boy in the house, he has much to learn as well.  Still, with this blog, he’ll have some great opportunities to learn about the world around him.  He’ll also be able to share those experiences with his sisters—improving their bonds.

Finally, this gives us a chance to interact with our whole community in a positive way.  We don’t have a “jet-set” lifestyle, so our activities won’t be as extravagant as what is seen on TV.  However, we hope to show that that level of affluence isn’t necessary, and anyone who wants to improve or re-establish relationships—within their household or within their community—can do that pretty easily; not with money and privilege, but by simply having conversations,  exploring topics that others are interested in or taking the chance to learn how to make something from just the raw materials.