Sometimes I think parents in past generations had it much easier. It’s not that I’m naïve: I realize how lucky our generation is, especially in the Western world, to be surrounded by technology and conveniences which were unimaginable just a couple of generations ago.
But in other ways, I think our lives are much harder – certainly more complicated. Modern life is extremely fast paced, and technology makes the pace increasingly faster. It seems as though we forgot what leisure was all about.
Technology was supposed to create more leisure time, but instead, many people are using it to accomplish more work. In addition, economic turbulence in recent years and the steady rise in standard of living – and the need to maintain it – means that more and more families, including my own, are dual income families. This obviously creates even more pressure.
My own family has reached an extremely low point just a couple of years ago. Our family relationships were incredibly stressed. Our communication was almost non-existent. I am proud to say that I refused to let it go on. I forced myself to slow down and really examine my family relationships. I didn’t like what I saw, and I vowed to make a change.
Creating a Family Constitution enabled me to make that change, and to keep it. I have learned to slow down, to spend time with my family, and to create a structure of rules, rewards and consequences that erases the need for constant negotiating, arguing and whining.
Yes, modern parents are overworked and overtired, but we can still slow down a bit, take some of the pressure off ourselves and our kids, simplify our lives, and – above all – add some much needed clarity and structure through a Family Constitution.
Photo by rankun76