A Story: How Do You Unwind? 

After a long day, each family member returns home to relax. Everyone has their own routine after work or school, and the most important thing is finding some sort of release from the day’s stress. But even though unwinding after the day brings the family together, they also need time alone.

Father

The key turns in the lock, and Dad steps inside, glad to be home after a long day at work. The smell of dinner pulls him to the kitchen, and he asks how his wife and kids are doing. He eats quickly while adding to the family conversation about weekend plans and asking about school and what’s happening that weekend.

After dinner, he drops onto the couch, happy to catch up on recent news in the newspaper and TV news channels. The kids pile into the room much later, and they watch a family drama together. He wonders where his wife is – she wouldn’t want to talk with him anyway – she doesn’t like to hear about his work stress. If he’s not too tired, he plays games with the kids before bedtime.

Mother

Mother watches while her husband and children eat dinner and talk about events at school and in their city. Then she puts away the leftovers and washes the dishes while she thinks about all the other household tasks that she needs to complete the next day. She checks if the children are doing their homework. Her husband is relaxing in front of the TV and not speaking to her. They usually don’t talk because she wants to remind him of all the millions of tasks that they need to do.

Then she packs the children’s lunches for the next day. This weekend, she will be working part time so she makes a checklist of what she needs to prepare – what outfit to wear, what lunch to bring, what the kids need to do while she’s at work. When her day is done, she looks forward to doing a little reading before bedtime.

Children

The school day was long so the children can’t wait to leave the classroom and go home. They first go to the kitchen to grab snacks and watch after-school cartoons. Their mom is busy preparing dinner. TV time is one of the best times of the day.

If they are lucky, Mom cooks something they like for dinner and mealtime will be quick. Otherwise, dinner will be slow if they don’t like the food. After dinner, it’s the unpleasant task of completing homework. Sometimes homework is fun, and sometimes it isn’t. Then they chat with their friends or find their Dad and watch more TV. 

All too soon, it’s time for bedtime and lights out. When their parents think they have gone to sleep, one kid turns on a flashlight and starts to read a book under the sheets.