Spend quality time with family this Christmas

FAMILIES LIVING apart gather from far and wide to celebrate the Christmas season. Cousins, brothers, sisters, and, of course, everyone’s favourite aunt who married rich and refuses to have children. It can be a time of great pleasure or the source of great discontentment. Either way, it’s family time and Outlook has come up with a few great family-inclusive ideas that will strengthen bonds and/or reconnect your family.

Spring cleaning: Many hands make the workload lighter, and since everyone is going to be at the house, why not give each capable member of the family a task. Sure, they might protest and even ignore the fact that they need to give it their best shot, but imagine queuing up the Christmas playlist while everyone bellows their favourite lines.

Dress the tree: Christmas trees have always been a crucial part of most family’s holiday tradition. If you have young children around, this is the perfect opportunity to both learn their personalities and teach imperative team-building skills. For older folks, the conversations while dressing the tree could be endless; from tales of when you were younger to future plans. You’d be surprised how much of yourself you share, and, in turn, for deeper emotional bonds.

Baking: What’s Christmas without fruit cake? For decades, families have made it their point of duty to make their own cakes and best of all, everyone can be involved. Out of a discussion of family tradition, Jerome, husband and father of two, explained that he learnt every step of the baking process just by being there and licking to spoon and cleaning the bowls with his fingers. Today, he’s the co-owner of a popular baking company that provides sweet treats right across the island for every occasion. Get matching aprons, gather the family, and be safe.

Have dinner together: Ditch all phones, ensure that all tables are close by so everyone can join the conversation. Break bread together, talk about personal goals for the upcoming year, make plans together and most of all, let each other know how much you cherish your time together.

You see, bonding doesn’t require loads of money and extravagant gestures. It requires love and a passion to see those around you become the very best version of themselves, while committing to being their every step of the way.

Do you have any Christmas bonding traditions? We want to know. Send us an email at lifestyle@gleanerjm.com.