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Connecting can seem hard somedays when rushing, kids are on ‘i’ devices and life is full.

Making conversation can sometimes seem hard or challenging. Here’s a fun game we play from time to time to liven up discussions and build our sense of history and belonging as a family.

Over family dinner on Sunday night, we did a round table ‘getting to know each other better’ Q&A. I cherish these moments when we delve into each other’s stories, even though we live together and have spent decades with each other, there are always new things to discover.

We each took it in turns to answer this question: What was your worst ever job?

What was yours? (Hopefully it’s not the one you’re currently in but if so, read on …)



The answers were interesting:

  • Repairing the tennis courts with new grass plugs for 8 hrs a day, 4 weeks in a row in the middle of summer. (Hot, repetitive, getting through Uni)
  • Stacking shelves at the local grocery store. (Tedious, hard work, repetitive, saving for overseas trip)
  • Cleaning 1,000 rulers. (Incredibly boring, paying my way through Uni)
  • Working on a conveyor belt at a biscuit factory. (Workplace bullying, highly stressful.)

There were moments when each of us felt on the edge of throwing in the towel, overwrought and it’s so tempting in those moments to think, “I shouldn’t have to do this …”, “I can’t stand this any longer.” etc.

How we got through those moments was by refocusing our minds on:

  • Accepting this is how things are for the moment, it’s not forever, just a temporary phase, a means to an end i.e. money/study….
  • Finding things in those moments that we could be grateful for e.g. while cleaning rulers, I let my mind revise all the things I needed to know for my upcoming exams (I was studying at the time) and likewise for each of us.
  • Focusing on doing the job at hand with the best of our ability and intention, so at least at the end of it, there was a sense of pride in knowing we’d put in solid work. The pay cheque was certainly highly valued after weeks of the above.

So why not liven up family meals this week with an interesting question?

Look for the strategies and lessons that you can share and learn from each other. Sharing our stories is the best way to pass on education.

Do you and your family play any games like this? Please share in the comments below.

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  • Not something that we ever tried.
    For me my worst ever job was for a trucking company and the boss was such a disgusting person. He hated woman and had zero respect for us. One day his wife came into the office and it turned out that it was his birthday. he was out of the office at the time and she decorated his office with balloons and she had a cake and a gift for him. When he arrived he exploded and yelled at her saying that he didnt have time for this crap and she was to get all the crap out of his office. She was in tears and then he blasted her for being a baby. I so badly wanted her to throw the cake at him but she didnt. I quit shortly after that.

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  • No we don’t but I really like the idea!

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  • My husband and I hadn’t sat at the table for a long time. Since having our daughter (and her being old enough to sit at the table properly) we are forever entertained by the funny little things that come out of her mouth. Life is never dull!

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  • fmily get togethers it s wonderful i just love it

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  • Interesting. So much better than what did you do at school today.

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  • I appreciate the ideas for encouraging better family connection. It’s so important.

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  • to try this week

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  • family connection

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  • try this week

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  • My family is lucky to sit down to a meal at the sane time! Then it’s a battle to get everyone to put down their mobile gadgets!

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  • Yes! It does sound like an interesting strategy!

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  • I didn’t think to much about our family interaction until a new family menber came onto the scene and commented how much we talk and share old stories and laugh along together, family can’t beat it.

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  • If I had any family close by, I might try this. Both kids interstate, no other family nearby

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  • Roxy, thanks for sharing your story. We always talk around the dinner table. Its the one meal we always, ALWAYS, sit together. Sometimes we talk about our day, others its what we’d like to do on the weekend or holidays, and others its funny anecdotes. Nothing beats family time.

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  • I love ideas for encouraging family connection

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  • We used to talk about the one good or bad thing for the day, but I really love this idea. For kids, it’s about getting to know your parents before they were parents!! And not in an old-fashioned, not another old story Mum or Dad kinda way. Great idea.

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  • I ask my toddler and preschooler about what we did today and in the future I hope to have something around our table like what I learned from my church pastor and his wife – they play what they call the “High Low Game” with their 4 children ranging from 10 to 20 years old. Each person has a turn to say what was a highlight of the day and a low point in the day. Discussion stems naturally from the answers each one gives. It’s a pretty easy way to get younger ones to participate too by focusing on their emotions during the events of the day. Each person can also take turns being the chairperson each night – leading be discussion.

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  • Sounds like an interesting strategy. We usually ask about each others day either at dinner or afternoon tea but usually when everyone is home.

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  • Thank you for sharing. Great ideas.

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  • We have always had family talks round the dinner table right from when my children were old enough to ask questions. Great way to sort out problems and no one feels left out.

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