Family Matters

For many years, I wanted a big house. Growing up in a small place, sleeping in the living room with my other 3 sisters, made me think that having your own room was everyone’s ideal. So when I had to choose my own house, I thought I would make sure there was enough rooms for everyone. For a long time, I was convinced that this had to be what everyone wanted - their own room.

However, after having my first child, I found a small hole in this theory, and after each additional child (I have 3), this hole in my belief that everyone has a need for privacy only got bigger and bigger.

It was only last night though, when my 6-year-old daughter opened her homework book on the dining room table, that I realized it was time to let this perception go, because, in my life, it did not survive the reality test.

With every home we bought, we made an effort to make sure the kids had their own rooms, so that they could bring friends home, do their homework, and just have some time off by themselves, but somehow it never worked quite the way we had expected.

No matter how big, small, well equipped or colorful a room we organized for them, they always spent their time around the dining room table, the table on which we eat all our meals, or on at the kitchen counter, while we were making food. My kids are 6 years apart in age, with completely different mentalities, different genders and have been brought up in completely different parts of the world, yet all three of them do their homework, entertain friends, read books, draw and eat around the dining room table.

We have had homes with designated playrooms, but my kids never played in them, and we ended up moving all the toys and games to the dining area.

Size does matter

So when we go to look for a new home, the size of the kids' rooms does not matter anymore. The size of the living room does not matter. The size of the yard does not matter. The size of the bathrooms or toilets does not matter. The only thing that matters is the size of the dining area, because this is where we will all live and where we spend most of our time when we are at home.

Where is the center of your home? Where do you and your kids spend most of your time at home?

Use the comment box below to share more about the center of your home.

Happy day,
Ronit Baras

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