Table of Contents
Foreword Carrie Contey xi
What Is Slow Family Living? xv
The Slow Family Manifesto xxi
75 Ways to Slow Down Together 1
1 Is This Working for Us? 3
2 Pause 5
3 Start the Day with Four Deep, Slow Breaths 8
4 Connect the Dots 11
5 See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me: Increasing Your Connection 13
6 Practicing Family Life 15
7 Appreciate 17
8 Picture This 20
9 Dropping Love Bombs 22
10 Listen with Your Heart Open 24
11 The Family That Learns Together 27
12 Slow Sports 29
13 Taking Slow Where You Can Get It 32
14 Bedtime Bliss 34
15 High Point-Low Point 37
16 The Blitz: A Family Tidy Up 39
17 Spend Nothing Day 42
18 One on One 45
19 Deciding to Be Done 48
20 Treating Family Time Like a Good Book 50
21 Syncing Your Calendars (The Old-Fashioned Way) 52
22 Go Outside and Play 55
23 Camp Out at Home 58
24 Slow Summer Camp 60
25 Community Service, Family Style 62
26 Magnetic Attraction: A Slow Walk with a Purpose 65
27 Do-Over 67
28 Happy You Day! 69
29 Make 'Em Laugh 71
30 Say Good-Bye Like You Mean It 73
31 Ponder Invitations (And Practice Saying No!) 75
32 Playing Hooky, Family Style 77
33 Family Homework 79
34 Keeping a Family Journal 82
35 Spacious Transitions 85
36 Just Ten Extra Minutes 88
37 This I Believe 91
38 Throw the Rules Out the Window 93
39 Timed Talking 95
40 What Do You Need? 97
41 Fantasy Island 99
42 Sigh. Forgive. Let Go. Move On. 101
43 Make Stuff Together 103
44 Dinner Co-op 105
45 The Family That Cooks Together 108
46 How Low Can Your Pantry Go? 111
47 Siblings for Life 114
48 Date Night 116
49 The Half-Full Weekend 119
50 A Night in the Park 121
51 Take a Mental Picture 124
52 Screen Free 127
53 Take Five 130
54 Slow Holidays 134
55 Out with the Old (Before You Ring in the New) 137
56 Going from Fast to Slow 139
57 How Did We Get Here? 141
58 Partner Up 143
59 Reflect and Project 145
60 Beneath Every Behavior Is a Need 148
61 The Family Billboard 151
62 Real Cooperation 154
63 Dance Party Rock Band 156
64 Spontaneous Game Night 159
65 The Family Lemonade Stand 162
66 The Love Pop-In 165
67 Freaky Friday 168
68 DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Time 170
69 Happy Birthday to You! 172
70 Lazing About: Don't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em! 175
71 Don't Sweep Until the Rice Dries 178
72 Capturing the Ideal 180
73 Road Trip! 183
74 May the Circle Be Open 186
75 Making Big Change 189
Final Note 193
Acknowledgments 195
