Moms have a profound ability to impact their children’s moods and behavior in a negative or positive manner. That old saying “if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” is true. Laughter may be the best method we have to break the ice and ease the tension after a hard day. So enjoy your family and let go of the things that don’t really matter. Planned or spontaneous family fun activities can be the catalyst to bring a little fun into our hectic lives.  

Be Intentional

Set a specific night for Family Fun Night every week or at least once a month. Schedule whatever your family finds enjoyable, just make sure it actually happens. Play games or put a puzzle together and use Mod Podge to seal it and frame it in the family room. Have a theme night using a family-friendly movie like Finding Nemo, eat fish sticks (if you dare), have popcorn and sleep together on the living room floor. Try something new as a family like indoor rock climbing and have fun learning together.

Be Consistent

Schedule individual date nights with your children so you can give them some personal attention. Our family loves to go to Chick-fil-A on Tuesday nights.  The kids eat free, they have face painting and special guest appearances by the Chick-fil-A cow, and others like the tooth fairy. The kids have a great time in the indoor play center and we have a chance to talk as a couple.  

Be Available

Take every opportunity to learn more about each other spend time together and make memories. Play 20 questions and learn something new about each other while driving your child to school or practice. Take each of your children to the grocery store by themselves at least once a month and allow them to pick out the cereal and snacks for the week. You can even divide the shopping list and race to see who can finish first. So much can be learned about your children by spending time with them while you go about the mundane chores of life.

Be Thoughtful

Practice random acts of kindness in your family; the little, everyday sweet things that make the most difference. Give your child a warm towel on a cold morning when they get out of the shower or put their clothes in the dryer while they are having breakfast. Make a fuss over your child, so they feel like they are the most important person in your life. Tell them how much you appreciate and love them, often and in front of others.

Be Sentimental

Tell them one reason every day why you love them, whether it’s something about their personality or something they do that makes you proud. Create a small scrapbook of your favorite memories together. Include a photo and write a few sentences about what you did and why it was special. Then sit down with your child, relive the memories together and laugh about all the fun times you have shared.

—Melinda Hines

Melinda placed in the Top 3 in the Dallas Christian Family Writers Contest held in conjunction with Roaring Lambs’ annual Christian Writers Conference.