“How do we strengthen our family connection?” It doesn’t take a fancy vacation or expensive gift. Healthy connection is found in basic moments and routines like eating together, sharing a laugh, exploring something new and ensuring you share intentional time together. These daily experiences are where secure attachment develops and where the foundation laid for healthy life-long relationships to be built on. Strong family bonds are not built through perfection, but consistency, and kids flourish when their experiences reflect repeated moments that highlight the fact that they are loved and valued, and are important to the family unit.
Ponca offers something other communities our size don’t: weekly events which create the opportunity to spend quality time together. Experiencing new or repeated things as a family allows the children to feel valued and for conversations to flow, and memories are made that strengthens the bond, even after the event is over. These simple acts become the things children remember the most!
We enjoy the Ponca City farmers market when possible because it prevents us from rushing through the grocery store. Our 15-year-old and 8-month-old like choosing fresh fruits and vegetables, asking questions and getting excited about the foods they hand-pick themselves. Cooking with the ingredients they chose extends that experience and adds to the memory made. Research consistently shows that involving children in meal planning and cooking promotes communication, cooperation, confidence and healthy eating habits, while creating meaningful family interaction. It is about spending time together, hanging in the kitchen, working together for each other and securing the sense of belonging, not making the perfect meal; we can’t all be a Chef Jeff.
There are so many family-friendly events this September that naturally encourage connection. Music in the Garden at LA Cann Gardens will be weekly this month so grab a blanket, listen to music and sing with the kids! What an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company without the typical distractions. Something our 15-year-old always enjoys is the Fly-in breakfast held on the first Saturday of each month. Peyton has always been naturally curious about airplanes, and those moments of wonder sparked many conversations that lingered through the day. On the 6th, families can enjoy Cars and Coffee at Lake Ponca at 10 a.m., then the Summer Concert Series at 3 p.m. Whether your child loves classic cars, live music or just likes being outside, these events create space for genuine family interaction. Besides those things, The Hispanic Heritage Festival at City Central beginning at 5 p.m. where there’ll be good food, music and culture! We plan to attend the 40th Annual Cherokee Strip BBQ and Chili Cook-Off at Lake Ponca; maybe we’ll catch the play at the Ponca Playhouse, Moon Over Buffalo. Festivals and live theater encourage imagination and conversation and shared memories secure the bond, and nurture the attachment, often lasting for years,
We’ve learned that children don’t remember every word said, but do remember how they felt when they were with us. Strong families aren’t built in a day, They’re built one meal, one conversation, one yes, one community event and one repaired disagreement at a time. This September, take advantage of what Ponca City has to offer. The memories you make together today become the secure foundation your children will carry with them for years to come.
Ashley & Relo Adams