Other than my husband’s birthday and Valentine’s Day, when I think of special days during the month of February, I think of Family Day. I think of this day as a reminder of how important family time is. Of course, as with Valentine’s Day, if it’s the only day that you show love and togetherness, your actions may appear somewhat disingenuous. However, if you see this as an opportunity to put in extra effort to show how much you care, then your actions will appear more sincere.

The face of family has changed dramatically over the years. No longer is family conventionally defined by a mother, father and kids. Now, family takes on many shapes.

Not everyone is fortunate to be part of a family in which he or she feels secure, loved and supported. For some, family has been a huge disappointment. While some believe that family members should be revered and respected no matter how they act towards one another, others feel that blood is not always thicker than water and that the friends they have chosen to be part of their inner circle have become symbolic of the family they created themselves.

No matter who you choose to hang out with on Family Day, consider this an opportunity to focus on and show appreciation for one another.

Here are some ideas for Family Day:

• Something that our family loves to do on Family Day is to bring out old photo albums and video tapes or DVD’s of years gone by. After going through my father’s belongings after he passed away a few months ago, and coming across old report cards he had kept of my mothers, my plan is to show my kids some of my report cards and school projects from when I was a student. I’m doing this especially because I wish I would have seen my mom’s school records before she passed so that I could have discussed them with her and asked her questions.
• Enjoy a nice home cooked meal together, go out or order in if you’d prefer. While eating together, take the opportunity to voice out loud the top three things that you appreciate about one another. Too often we think good thoughts about one another but don’t always express them out loud.
• Put extra effort into turning off cell phones, computers and other forms of technology so that you can focus on one another. Play a board game, pull out the kids markers and create a family masterpiece on a large piece of paper. Maybe trace around each of your hands on a piece of paper as a keepsake.

Whatever you decide to do together, wishing you a fabulous Family Day!