| Many people these days are bemoaning the lack of | | | | cold beer, and relax. So where do you squeeze in |
| time families have to spend together. Besides having | | | | family time? |
| to go to school, kids also have their schedules filled | | | | Rather than throwing everything into disarray by |
| with dozens of extracurricular activities such as | | | | imposing a two hour, no TV, no computer, no cell |
| sports, soccer practice, tuba lessons, ballet, tae kwon | | | | phone family meeting each night, you might want to |
| do, weekly religious groups, math teams, French club | | | | take things easier and incorporate your quality time |
| and the list goes on and on. Parents, of course, have | | | | into your regular routine. Your kids will actually learn |
| jobs to attend to. Even stay at home mothers have | | | | to appreciate family time. Find a TV show or movie |
| their work cut out for them, what with PTA | | | | to watch together, as a whole family. |
| meetings, book clubs, cooking dinner, cleaning the | | | | With satellite TV, there's a wealth of entertaining and |
| house and weeding the garden among a million other | | | | educational programs that the whole family will enjoy. |
| things. Everyone is busy. Time is scarce. There's | | | | The Discovery Channel, for example, has some |
| seems to be precious little time for families to get | | | | fascinating programs in HD. Or opt for a classic movie |
| together and simply talk or to enjoy each other's | | | | or something more modern. Expose your kids to |
| company. | | | | some of the world's most renowned directors. Let |
| Of course, when everyone does happen to be at | | | | them pick out programs that interest them. |
| home, they usually retire to their separate rooms. | | | | Once the show's over, talk about what you just saw. |
| The kids might be doing homework, chatting with | | | | Ask your kids what they thought. Discuss related |
| friends, surfing the net or catching up on the latest | | | | topics. You could even do further research about a |
| episode of the Simpsons. Dad is probably busy | | | | subject matter if your kids find it interesting. The |
| catching the NFL Sunday Ticket, while mom is | | | | idea is to engage everyone, to make TV watching |
| watching Troy with Brad Pitt playing the muscular | | | | more active. |
| Achilles--in high definition of course. So what | | | | Of course, you shouldn't limit your family time to TV |
| happened to some good, old fashioned, quality family | | | | alone. Turn it off during meals. Make sure your TV |
| time? It is hard to come by, especially in this day and | | | | doesn't become your kids' babysitter. However, you |
| era, with the rise of high-speed Internet, Blackberries, | | | | could try to turn watching TV into a family activity. |
| and 24 hour news. Parents and kids alike come home | | | | Instead of watching separate shows on four |
| tired and exhausted and they don't feel like doing | | | | different screens, come together and enjoy a movie |
| anything other than zoning out in front of the TV. | | | | together. It's not such a radical idea. Try it sometime. |
| It's a popular national pastime; in fact it's become a | | | | Your kids may thank you. |
| habit. You go home, flick on the TV set, pull out a | | | | |