I have to be honest. In recent months, I have been seriously reflecting on what is most important to me and my family. Do we continue to stay on course with the current level of intensity of our career pursuits that maintain our focus on gaining more and more financial trappings, in the hopes that we will be happiest as we attain more and more things. Or do we take a real step back and assess where we are, where we want to go, and ultimately what home life that we desire for our children and family?
I have to say that the more I look holistically at our current lifestyle in the rat race, the more I am repulsed by the outcomes. We have less time to spend together during school and workdays, we are pressed to fit more and more enriching activities into our week, with less time. And let’s not forget, we strive to feed our families healthful meals, all while managing and juggling our many responsibilities as parents and caregivers.
Interestingly, due to the economic downturn, some of us are being forced to decrease time in the workplace, causing us to spend more time at home. This can actually be a blessing in disguise if you change your perspective on your circumstance.
So what is my suggestion to combat what I consider to be this regressive movement within our society, that is disguised as the progressive, normal way to live and raise our families? Well to be honest, I think as women, who tend to set the tone of our family life; we need to consider going back to basics.
Here are some things that I think we can do to improve our family life, all while overcoming the current adversities that many of us are managing within our lives:
Connect to the Wisdom
Cultivate those intergenerational connections by spending time with your grandparents and extended family. Oftentimes we miss out on quality interchange with our elders. Our children and families can benefit immensely from these relationships. Who better to teach you and your children valuable skills and life lessons, and share the treasures of family artifacts, stories and history that must be saved, and recorded for future generations to cherish.
Learn New Invaluable Skills
Take a class, workshop, read books or watch tutorial videos on the web to learn a new skill. This could include: sewing, knitting, or crocheting; cooking from scratch, gardening, canning and preserving food.
If you have the space or where with all to think outside the box, check your city zoning laws if you want to raise chickens for eggs, bees for honey, or even start a small fish farm in your backyard. Teach your children these skills. These are all actually essential elements of your emergency preparedness plan. And could prove economically fruitful as a small business opportunity, or a way for you to barter and trade with neighbors.
Many cities have community garden programs, and resources to assist with obtaining these skills and connecting with fellow residents who are also working to regain a sense of control over their destiny, all while expanding their knowledge and skill sets. Check your local library and recreation center to see what may be available in your neighborhood.
Personally, I feel that much more fulfilled when I meet a new challenge by learning a new household skill, honing my sewing skills, or making a new meal from scratch. I know that my family benefits from more healthful foods, more quality time with me, and the financial savings incurred from making these choices and investments into our future.
Now of course we are thankful for the modern conveniences of life, the accessibility to each other through technology, and the global community. However, we have to be certain that we don’t lose sight of what is most important. As so-called modern women, we need not perceive the resurrection of what may be considered as traditional homemaking skills as going backwards – this is about moving forward. If we don’t learn skills that can allow us to survive and thrive as a family, we are doing our families a disservice. We want our children and families to flourish into the future, and feel solace in knowing that as parents we have prepared our children to the best of our ability to be self-sufficient, critical thinkers and survivalists in these volatile, yet promising times that we live in.
We would love to hear from you!
Have you begun learning a new skill to benefit your family’s quality of life?
Stay Healthy and Wise,
Ericka L. Abrams, Public Health Practitioner
