Family, isn't it about time?

My church has commercials. Not infomercials. There's no 2 for 1 baptize in the next 53 minutes special offer. (although it's not a bad idea) They're commericials that are usually of a young ethnic family, (to prove that mormons aren't just a bunch of whities) and they typically go something like this...

It's a beautiful day out and son wants to play catch

Dad is very busy with work, tells son no

Mom gives dad "look" (one one with arms folded and eyebrows raised)

Dad has mild inner-struggle

Music swells...

Dad makes the right choice, dad and son play catch

strong finish...

The whole family is sitting on the couch laughing and eating popcorn.

tag line...

Family...isn't it about time?

I think they're great. Ok, sliiiiightly cheesy, but really...a great message.

But what happens when the family grows up? When the parents are empty-nesters, The kids get married, have kids of their own, and the nuclear family is now the extended family? While the easy answer is that the message now applies to their young families, what's the message for the grown up family?

I have 6 siblings, 6 grown-up siblings. 6 individual personalities, priorities and problems. I don't really remember sitting around, all 7 of us, laughing while eating popcorn - but I'm pretty sure we did. Now we're spread all over the US and Puerto Rico, far away and quite frankly, out of touch.

They way I see it, the message is good when the families are young and the relationships aren't complicated...the message is even better when that family has grown up.

Family, isn't it about time? Yes, it's time. And dad, let's play catch.