TABLE TALK

WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY YOU MUST TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR SPOUSE BY HAVING REGULAR MEETINGS EITHER AT DINNER OR SOMETIME DURING THE DAY. THIS MAKES EACH PERSON CLOSER TO EACH OTHER AND KEEPS THEM AWARE OF WHAT EACH PERSON FEELS PER DAY. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR A HEALTHY FAMILY TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS.

IF THE MEMBERS ARE DOING DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES DURING THE WEEK THEY MUST MEET AT LEAST THREE TIMES DURING THE WEEK IN ORDER TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AS A FAMILY. THEY MUST TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS TO EACH OTHER AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM DURING THE DAY IN ORDER TO FIND MEANING AS A HEALTHY FAMILY.

THEY NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THEIR INNER FEELINGS AND HOW THEY WANT TO THRIVE AS A FAMILY. EACH PERSON HAS EQUAL WEIGHT IN THIS DISCUSSION. ITS KIND OF LIKE PLAYING THE GAME OF LIFE - THE FAMILY NEEDS TO FIND A COMMON GOAL TO BRING EACH PERSON IT'S HAPPIEST. THEY NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT IS BEST FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. KIND OF LIKE WHAT ROLE WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE IF YOU WERE ON A BOAT TRYING TO GET TO THE NEXT LAND MASS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OPTION TO HAVING A WORKABLE FAMILY....WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES THAT BRING THE FAMILY CLOSER TOGETHER..WHAT TOPICS CAN THEY DISCUSS ,,, AND WHAT DOES EACH PERSON BELIEVE IN THAT BRINGS MEANING TO THEIR LIFE? THESE TOPICS CAN GO ON AND ON THROUGH THEIR LIVES AS AN EVOLVING STORY.

MY MOM WHO WILL BE 98 THIS YEAR LIKES TO CHAT A LOT. ONCE YOU GET HER ON A SUBJECT FROM HER HISTORY SHE LIKES TO TELL STORIES THAT MADE HER LIFE MEANINGFUL. IT USUALLY INCLUDED HER TRAVELS HITHER AND YONDER VS. RAISING US KIDS. RAISING A FAMILY IS A NON PAYING JOB THAT TAKES PATIENCE AND SOME COMMUNITY HELP AS WELL. IT IS A JOB THAT TODAY IS NOT CONSIDERED A POSITION OF STATUS. SHE ALWAYS TOLD ME I COULD BE ANYTHING I WANTED TO BE ..AND I HAVE - FROM NURSEMAID TO HER TO FLORIST TO ARTIST TO ARCHAEOLOGIST AND LIFE COACH.

IN YOUR FAMILY IT IS GOOD TO LET THE ELDERS TEACH THE CHILDREN - GRANDPARENTS ARE GOOD TO HAVE AS THE TEENS AND CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN TO THEM. MANY FAMILIES TODAY LACK TABLE TALK - HOWEVER THE MOMS IN A SOCIAL GROUP USUALLY DO CHAT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE EACH FAMILY MEMBER DISCUSS WITH THE FAMILY WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND GET THEIR NEEDS MET EITHER FROM THE FAMILY OR FROM THEIR COMMUNITY.