Tonight

Tonight, being Friday, is the Family Night In. It used to be Girls Night In, but Kate brings her husband and Michelle brings her boyfriend, so it has changed to Family Night In instead.

We make a special point of meeting every week because unless a specific regular date is made, weeks fly by in the daily rush in the rat race and we end up not seeing each other for weeks, without realising it. This is an important point because good and supportive family bonds help us all to cope with the daily rat race.

In today's world, people don't often really talk to each other. Parents come home from work, have children to supervise, food and housework to see to and then are so tired they veg out in front of the TV. Or the computer, or in a book or in hobbies like gym or jogging.

This lack of communication brings about loneliness, alienation and isolation. People who have no time to listen to each other are attracted to people who will listen to them. Families are so important for courage, strength and balance that the nurturing of those bonds has to be a prime priority.

My sister is married to a very busy man who has a stressful job. She wants to nurture her marriage so she has insisted that Wednesday night is their night. They might go for a walk, have coffee, go to a pub or whatever takes their fancy, but she insists it must be out of the home where the telephone is a tyrant competing with the TV and computer and where the teenagers, cats and garden need attention. Those things will always need attention but if the marriage is to be strong enough to deal with all that it can only be in the context of communication.

Many folk haven't worked out that the TV has an OFF switch.