After a crazy busy summer with lots of family time – both the good-relaxing-enjoying kind and the hair-pulling-sister-brother-constant-fighting kind, we’re slowly getting into our back-to-school routines.  This means the calendar is filling up with commitments, ball games, practices, and homework too.

If we’re not careful and intentional family time can become left-over time.   Later this month, I’m actually headed to an event at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando with my entire family through Mom It Forward.  It’s really got me thinking about practical steps I can take to help my family become a Family Forward Family – one that’s always moving forward.  Together.  Not in a bunch of directions without each other!

Here’s a few steps to consider …

• Get Up Early –  Wake up in plenty of time to get morning duties done before the kids wake up – this one usually makes me a MUCH nicer parent in the mornings!
• Unplug – After the kids get home from school until after they go to bed at night – it’s hard, but worth it!
• Track My Time – Certain things can consume MUCH more of our time than we anticipate (hello Pinterest?!) but setting a clock helps realize how long we’ve been distracted.
• Work Together – Whether it’s chores together at home, working in the yard outside or volunteering in the community, doing something hard or doing something for someone else is so good for the kids to see!
• Eat Together – Some dinners go better than others, but if we’re all home we definitely all eat together – no cell phones or tablets!  It’s the only time we’re usually all together each day!
• Play Together – It can’t be all hard work and homework.  Plan a family game night or just spontaneously decide on something fun to do.

What are your tips for a Family  Forward Family?