Recharge, Renew, Retreat

by Christy Scannell

 With the New Year come new goals. What will you do in 2007? How about REjecting those tired diet and exercise REsolutions and instead REcharging your family life? Here are a few ideas for your REview:

• REflect on last year. What were the special highlights? REnew those activities for 2007.
• REsolve to monitor your kids’ use of chat rooms. Visit chatdanger.com for help.
• RElinquish any REsponsibilities that are putting up walls in your family life. Have you been a PTA committee chair for the last four years? Take a break!
• REspond to your child’s academic needs by hiring a tutor. Sometimes even a short-term helper can make a big difference for a struggling student.
• REsist forcing your kids into activities you liked when you were their ages. Instead, REspect their abilities to decide on sports and hobbies that appeal to them.
• REmind your spouse how you feel about him or her by whispering “I love you” at unexpected moments.
• REfuse to take on additional commitments that might cause more stress in your household.
• REvel in your children’s successes by REmembering to emphasize hugging over nagging.
• REinforce what the kids are learning at school and catechism by praying before meals and at bedtime. Be sure they hear your prayers, too.
• REinvent your marriage by selecting something new you can do together. Simple pursuits such as regular evening walks or learning to upholster can REjuvenate your partnership.
• REquire your family to share dinner at least three nights per week. And that doesn’t mean in the car on the way to soccer practice!
• REsign yourself that your home is never going to be perfect. Choose to RElax with your family rather than clean out the garage for the third time since September.
• REcord your family’s treasured times. You don’t need fancy scrapbooks—just write a few lines in a spiral notebook and paste in some pictures.
• REjoice in the family God has given you.