Hi, Dee! I think this is definitely all of us think about at some point--it's certainly something I think about frequently with my family. I think that quality time for our family is making the time to do things we all enjoy, and that I think we'll remember doing together later on. Sometimes that's trying new places--my husband's pretty good about having us do little excursions to kid-friendly places within driving distance that we haven't explored before--hands-on museums or new-to-us parks or trying out a new kind of food. And sometimes it's making the time to just read or play as a family at home--this summer we started reading the Little House series out loud together, and my older kids are fascinated. Or we'll play the Wii together--bowling is usually the game we can all manage ;) And some quality personal time is usually in the company of a good book, a piece of quality chocolate (Godiva is a lovely indulgence), and possibly freshly painted toenails :)

Hope you had a good filling-the-well kind of weekend!

This quality time thing is a good thing, Dee. My husband and I just slipped away for a weekend in Reno. My daughter drove over from California when she heard we were in driving range. My son, who lives in Reno, stopped in to spend all his free time with us. It's a habit (spending time together as a family) that we developed while the kids were young, and now they can't imagine not doing it. It makes the empty nest a whole lot more palatable. And we never did anything fancy while the kids were young--in fact we never took an honest to goodness family vacation--but we did small things like hikes, shopping, movies, 4-H events. And Dee, good for you making your husband slow down and fill the well, whether he thinks he needs to or not. :)

Hi Dee...I agree that quality time, both as a family and as an individual, is extremely important. As a family, we do a couple of things. I find my kids are really into solitary pursuits; the older one likes to write (imagine that!) and the younger one loves to read, so to get them to interact with us is sometimes difficult. But during the summer, weather permitting, we pack a picnic lunch and take the boat out for the entire day. We'll drop anchor somewhere to have lunch and let the girls swim, or find a sandbar and laze about in the sun. It's a great opportunity to reconnect and have fun. Otherwise, we try and take a family vacation each year, focusing on things we think the girls would enjoy. Our favorite trip was to Monhegan Island, Maine. No cars allowed on the island, and everyone eats family-style with strangers each night in the main house (strangers for the first five minutes, LOL). We spent every day hiking and exploring, or doing nature cruises around the island.

For myself, there's nothing I enjoy more than sitting in my sunroom or on my patio with a really good book!

I think quality time is essential, especially if you're working full-time or have a family. Too many people burn out from not taking it. I'm a widow so I live alone with my two dogs and not working full-time anymore yet I seem to be busier than ever with volunteering, taking care of the house and yard, various church projects, etc. I really have to make a concentrated effort to take quality time for me. To make sure I do that, I have a standing appointment once a month for a pedicure. It is so relaxing and I leave the shop feeling very pampered and sexy with my smooth feet and pretty dark red nails.

I think I create quality time by slowing down, and "prioritizing" if that's the word. Focusing on what is going on at that moment, and who I'm with. I try to spend some quality time with *someone* once a week. Real life often gets in the way, but what can you do.
Generally, it's over food. I think it's just easier to let go, people are more relaxed, and less guilty about spending time and slowing down while eating.
For me personally, quality time, I NEED it. At the end of the day [and I'm sure sleep specialists will be pulling out their hair] -I have to read. Right before I go to bed, generally in bed. Even if it's 3 am when I finally lay down, I need to read. I need some me time, and some time to unwind. Which for me, is reading.

With two kids, a boy who just turned 5 and a 21 month old girl, I don't have a whole lot of time to indulge myself. When I do find the time I indulge in something involving chocolate, such as fudge brownies or Godiva truffles or Harry and David's white chocolate macadeamia popcorn. My other indulgence are books. That is a treat or escape for me that I indulge in after the kids are in bed.

Hi Dee,
There's not enough time to do everything. I try to set aside an hour at night where I could read or watch tv. I'm more likely to have time on the weekend to chill out, but I usually have to spend some of my weekend running errands that I couldn't do during the week. Going to the movies is a great way to spend the weekend, but we're been going less in order to save money.

There is never enough time and for us with older children who are in high school and college you just take advantage of the opportunities when they arise. My husband and I plan to do things and if someone wants to come with us that's fine and sometimes it's just the two of us which is nice.

My husband and I are retired, so we have a lot of quality time together, without having to plan for it.
We garden, watch sports on tv, or just lay around and read.

Yes I do try to give myself some quality time, we all need it. I try to make sure I have an hour or two in the evenings just so I can spend some time reading. Sometime I just go out on my deck and set on the porch swing just to wind down. We put a roof over our deck a few years ago and put a porch swing on it, I just love to set out there and swing.

To make my quality time I may have to let something go just to get it. What if a floor doesn't get swept or the vacumme is not run, is it going to kill us, I don't think so. Hey you gotta do what you gotta do.

Quality time is great. We love watching movies and swimming.

i can only sleep at night. i can read all nite or listen to music

Well, actually all we pretty much have is quality time together. LOL Too long of a story as to why, but in the end, the best times are lunch time, either home or out. Sitting at the table and talking, no computers or anything like that. Although it's when we go out that we tend to get something chocolate. Like at the Olive Garden, love their chocolate mousse. Oh, and the first and last time we went to NYC last year -- Junior's for lunch. And what a chocolate cheesecake. But yeah, it was fun because we were together, and we were there to see Phantom of the Opera. LOL :)

Lois

I'm coming in late because I did take yesterday off for quality time. :) I spent the morning with Mike, and the afternoon having lunch with a friend and then catching up on sewing -- it was wonderful. Then, writing in the evening, because some ideas would not wait...

I do think appreciating the people you are with is a huge part of quality time, and it doesn't have to be long stretches of time, either -- a half-hour coloring with your kid is probably good quality time when you really mean it and really want to be there, have your attention focused on them, rather than forcing yourself to do entire evenings because you feel guilty for working all day or whatever.

I'm really glad someone mentioned taking quality time for yourself, too -- I think that's huge. Time with friends, time alone -- all necessary to peace of mind.

Sam

I think quality time is very important. My husband and I like to rent movies and snuggle on the couch together on the weekends. When I need quality time just for myself, I give myself a pedicure and lounge on the bed to read.

Like others, my quality time is divided into categories:

Time with The Child. He's almost 17 so these times are changing. One way we stay connected (for now, at least) is to watch America's Got Talent together. Since both DH and I have to get up early, we all watch the first hour on Tuesday, we tape the second hour and watch it together on Friday nights. Some popcorn or a Chex-mix sort of thing might be fun for those nights.

The Child also drives for us on the weekends. He's got his permit now and needs X number of hours before he can get his license. He'll make the six month requirement but not the hours in the same amount of time. Both he and I could use a new keychain.

For hubby and I, after The Child drives to play football on Sat afternoons, we try to have lunch together. Its not fancy as we're usually running errands together but it's time for us. We always end up at Barnes and Noble. He likes to read through magazines that he won't subscribe too and drink a latte. I'll sometimes have a drink but I'm more likely to pick up a book (or two). So a Barnes & Noble gift card would always be a treat.

Time for myself always involves reading. In the bath (bath oils or bubble bath) with some chocolate (Dove caramel) on the side is about as decadent as it can get. I'm not much into candles while bathing (I don't look up from my book) but I'll sometimes put a CD on.

Other minor indulgences are painting my toenails and buying new earrings!

What a fun contest idea!

ani

I love spending quality time with family and friends and since I cant do that on a day to day basis - after I come home from work, exercise and eat, I grab my book and sit down on the couch to read. What could be better.

As for indulgences, other that my contemporary reads, dark chocolate - dove, hersheys, godivas - as long as there are no peanuts, marshmallows or caramel involved. LOL. I LOVE Truffles!!! Also enjoy having nice note paper so when I need to drop someone a line, I have nice cards to send.

The one thing I always made sure of was that we all sat down to dinner as a family. I do think that is important. It lasted until both my daughters got part time jobs but at least when they weren't working they continued to have dinner with us. One is getting married in two weeks (yikes) and the other is moving away to college. So it will just be the two of us most of the time now.

My daughter's fiancee has a Wii and he always travels with it so we enjoy it periodically (it's very addicting lol). It replaces the old nintendo. We also like to play board games and card games together.

My dh and I have date night every two weeks where we make a point to go to a movie and try a new restaurant. With my kids at home for the summer, we try to make dinner's a family affair, with everyone pitching in and hanging around the dinner table for updates.

I try to schedule time to browse my local bookstore, make a massage or nail appointment once a month, sneak out to Starbuck's for a mocha frapp and some reading time once a week, and for a great pick me up, swing by the See's chocolate store for something sweet and mood lifting.