21 Days of Family Bonding
Did you know that studies show if you do something for 21 days it becomes a habit? That is why it is so important to stick with any new positive lifestyle changes for at least three weeks until it becomes part of your normal routine.
During the month of September I am teaming up with an old friend of mine, Erin, from 21 Day Experiment in a challenge to be more aware and invested in bonding with our families. A 21 Day Experiment does not have to be about healthy eating, exercising or stopping a negative habit. With our busy schedules we often get sucked into our daily routines and forget to consciously take a step back and cherish the moment to truly bond with our family.
Over the next month I will be blogging about our progress in this experiment. Erin will be sharing the ways her family is bonding together – from simple bedtime prayers to playdates with her two young boys and husband. I will be sharing ways to bond as a blended family with kids ranging in age from 8 to 17.
I hope you will follow along with us and we both encourage you to join in! Leave comments sharing how you bond with your family and share photos on Instagram by tagging #21DaysFamily so we can interact.
Is it easier for you to bond with each family member individually or everyone bond together as a family?
Spending more quality time with my family is something that has been weighing on my heart recently. I feel like we are all so distracted most of the time. This is a great experiment and I look forward to following along!
Isn’t that the truth, Rebekah? We get so distracted by stuff around us and our busy routines that it becomes our normal. That’s why this challenge is important to remind ourselves to stop and give undivided attention, even if for a few minutes a day.
I spent a TON of quality time with my family over summer vacation, but sadly, now that they are back in school, it’s going to be limited to the weekends.
We did the exact same during the summer, Robin. That’s why we saved this challenge for September. To be aware of getting busy and not taking time. Some days it may be as simple as sitting down for ten minutes to discuss their day without distractions or read a bedtime story together. Any kind of quality time is bonding.
I think I’m a mixture. I love having some one on one time with each kid. usually cuddling and talking about how their week is going. They love it. they have started to ask who’s turn it is each day. But for actual bonding activities we tend to do big family bonding. Because we know our family needs to be bonded together just as much as individually.
I am the same way, Amber. My kids are so spread out in ages that often times I bond with them separately because they enjoy different things and are on a different level mentally. However we love having family days filled with activities and quality time.
At home, it’s just me, my husband, and our three dogs, so obviously all the bonding is one on one. However I have a big extended family, so I’d say we have about a 50/50 mix.
I’ll take family bonding time any way I can get it. I really love bonding as a group, but I also try to get some good time in with my kids and my husband individually as well.
I enjoy one on one bonding time the most. Bonding with the entire family can be fun, but I find the best connections are the ones that are made with one other person.
I love one on one bonding time with my son. He’s 14 now, so that bonding time is becoming quite rare. I keep pushing it, though!
I love hanging out with the entire family, but I REALLY love some good one on one time with the kids. My nephew is 13 now, and I feel so blessed that he STILL wants to hang out with me. It’s really touching when a teenager tells you that you’re his best friend.
It is easier for us to bond as a family which we do! Love spending time altogether with my crew!
I love hanging out with my husband and daughter. It’s a great way for us all to bond. I still try to get in some one on one time with my daughter whenever I can, though.
I think there are benefits to spending time as a family, and off in packs. I love doing things on the weekend, but my hubby LOVES when he gets time to spend being daddy with our daughter- even if it’s a quick run to the grocery store. Creating levels of bonding is such an important way to be a family!
My daughter is now 10 years old and craves one-on-one time. It’s tough to carve out that time each day but so worth it!
Bonding as a family is so important. I try to bond individually and as a family.
This sounds like a great experiment, honestly. It’s easy to get caught up in day to day activities and miss out on bonding with your family.
Oh this is a great thing. We can get to distracted and fill our days with things, we can forget what truly matters.
I think this is a great idea. Family is so important and it is great that you are doing this challenge. Family is the most important thing.
What a great challenge! We have been trying to spend more time playing games together and less time watching tv.
Great idea! I think it’s easier for us as a family since it’s not very often that we can do one-on-one with the kids. Yet, I would love the opportunity to!
We try to spend time as a family as much as possible… We have family dinners every night and spend QT on the weekends…
I love spending quality time as a family unit as well as spending one on one time with my kids. I think you need a little bit of both.
Both types of bonding are important to me, so I devote time to each. I can’t imagine not having one or the other.
I love this! Life can get so busy and no excuses, but we all need to bond before things get too disconnected.
I love this! It is so important to set aside time as often as possible.
We are very bonded as a family. Family Prayer, Family dinners and Family Home Evening help us to stay connected and on the same page.
This is the sweetest post! I am convicted, I so need to do this!
I try to make sure I split time between the kids, as well as family time. I’m trying to get the husband to do the same. His schedule makes it hard.
I love this idea! I always say family is the most important thing, but the reality is, so many things take us away from them and we have to find a way to make time for focusing on family. I’d love to join in on the challenge!
I think it’s important to bond individually but also together as a family. I live far from my mom and brother, but do have one brother close by. I LOVE when we can all get together, but it doesn’t happen often.
What a great photo.
Great idea! My family could benefit from this.
It’s so hard to do this as a family! I find that I’m able to spend a lot of quality time with my boys, being a stay at home mom. What’s difficult is being with my husband too since his work schedule is so crazy. It’s definitely worth striving for though!
Spending time with my family is very important to me. We have been trying to do more things together like family game night.
I would use it to donate supplies to the animal shelter.