Anchors of Life

by Annie Nicol, MSW, LISW-S

Offering Children & Teen Counseling in Marysville Ohio Office

When telling stories of your childhood with family or childhood friends, you have probably used the phrase, “We would always…” or “ We used to…” These phrases indicate that your life had certain routines or practices that stuck with you since then until now, later in your life. Sometimes these stories are positive or even funny, while other times, they speak to routines that were not so intentional or left a scar.

 How will your kids tell these stories someday?

Kids’ attention is pulled in many different directions between media, games, extra-curriculars, homework, appointments, chores, and social activities. Knowing this, scheduling the hours-long “family night” may prove to be difficult, if not impossible, in this season of life. There are many pieces to their daily puzzle, and sometimes it seems like they barely fit together. 

 Anchor Activities are moments of connection that are short enough to fit into a normal day. When building any routine, consistency is especially important in the beginning until it becomes a regular part of life. You know your family’s tempo best, so you will be able to create and apply the activities that fit. If the activity is too long, it will be difficult to make a regular occurrence. Work around organic schedules such as sleep, school hours, and work hours. Do you have a dog? Walk it together every evening. Do you drop off or pick up from school every day? Keep the phones and radio off so you can prepare for or process the day. Wake up at a consistent time on Saturday mornings so you can make a breakfast that entices your family to sit at the table and eat it fresh instead of grab a granola bar and walk away.

Intentional acts you take to regulate, simplify, and connect with your kids will become the staples that connect the puzzle pieces of their days together.