Look at beavers. They are one of the most hardworking animals in the animal kingdom, constantly building dams and lodges, yet they still have time to be social. Beaver Solutions found they have a strong family structure, typically consisting of a monogamous pair – a rare trait for mammal species – and their offspring, with their young playing with their siblings.

How many of you have talked to your parents today? Have you had a meaningful conversation with a sibling instead of asking them for a phone charger? Have you gone without getting into  into a single argument with any of your family members, grandparents included? A study from Visit Anaheim discovered that out of 2,000 families polled, most of them spend less than 45 minutes together on a typical weekday, a measly 3% of a day.

It is easy to see why families have such a hard time spending time together. One Poll, a national market research company, stated that more than 55% of the respondents expressed a lack of time due to other commitments like jobs and extracurriculars as the primary reason preventing them from spending quality time with their kids and enjoying the “fun of parenting.”

This is no exception for OPHS families. As one of the most rigorous schools locally, students are usually cooped up in their rooms pulling all-nighters to study for exams. If they are not studying, they are either playing a sport, practicing an instrument or attending another extracurricular in the hopes of getting that long-anticipated college acceptance letter. Sophomore Hunter Frieborn agrees with the perceived rigor of OPHS.

“I think [OPHS] is a lot more rigorous than other schools,” Frieborn said. “I feel like I have a quiz every day.”

Unfortunately, parents do not have it any easier. Burdened by the many responsibilities of adulthood like finances and careers, parents are left wishing for more hours in the day, in life. Track and field coach Brian Hogendorp juggles multiple responsibilities as an adult and a father.

“I believe I’m a busy person because I spend most of my waking hours doing movement, either I’m working to try to provide for the family, I’m cooking or I’m [at the field] volunteering,” Hogendorp said. “Although students have a lot of activities, they have very few accountabilities and responsibilities. Most of it is related to their education, as a student or student athlete. For the adults, they’re busy in part because they have to provide for the family’s basic needs like Maslow’s hierarchy. The foundation has to be taken care of before you can really bloom.”

As life moves on, it does not get any easier. If anything, it gets busier, with a lot more dams to be built. However, if beavers can be busy and still socialize, humans can certainly do so as well. But, how?

A perfect social activity to increase family time is meals. In this high-tech world, it is too easy to hide yourself behind a screen. Eating with your family while everyone is in their own world does not count as quality family time; a conscious effort to turn off devices during family meal time can help strengthen family bonds. An article by The Atlantic found that children who frequently eat dinner with their family report feeling closer with their parents. Though it may be awkward at first, a simple question like “How was your day?” can lead to a worthwhile conversation.

In addition, including the whole family in meal planning and preparation can help tie families together, especially for events like holidays or birthdays. Nothing screams family time like baking a surprise cake for a family member. 

Furthermore, make it a requirement that everyone must  stay at the table until everyone is finished. Enjoy the time you have together. Junior Carmel Chen credits her communication skills to when she helps her parents with kitchen chores.

“I try to help them with either boiling noodles, prepping vegetables or the table,” Chen said. “I feel when you prepare meals with family, it is really important to communicate and understand.”

Like the food in a Thanksgiving meal, the benefits are bountiful. According to the American College of Pediatricians, “teens who have frequent family dinners are more likely to obtain better grades in school.” Family meals can also help with decision-making skills. The same report found that “children are 12% less likely to become obese just by eating family meals” and have a decreased risk of drug, alcohol and nicotine use.

What is one of your favorite memories? Expedia writes that 70% of parents who travel agree or strongly agree that their favorite childhood memories involve a family vacation. 

Family vacations are one of the best methods to spend more quality time with your family. They help break families from their mundane everyday lives by opening them to new experiences. Instead of focusing on responsibilities like work, you can focus on forming connections with your family. According to Elk Forge, shared experiences can help create a strong sense of family identity, unity and lasting memories.

In addition, since you are in new territory, you have nobody to depend on except your family. Overcoming challenges with them, from choosing a restaurant to finding a lost phone, can promote teamwork and help develop a healthy family dynamic where everyone listens, understands and accepts each other’s opinions. A nice souvenir to take home, if you ask me.

The best thing about vacations is they can be anywhere. A foreign country, the beach, a campsite, a theme park; the luxury of the vacation does not matter. The most important thing is getting away from your hectic life and hanging out with your family. Junior Jet Young travels throughout California with his family.

“I like traveling. It’s fun,” Young said. “It is a break from home. We get to do new activities that we wouldn’t do otherwise. We are all in this new place in a way that we aren’t normally.”

The “When You Coming Home, Dad?” trope is a classic example of the importance of presence. It is when a child feels betrayed when they do not see their parents at a sports game or an important event like graduation because they are busy. Though it may not seem like a big deal, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia notes how missing a child’s milestone can lead to feelings of disappointment, sadness, anger, frustration and anxiety. Students dedicate a lot of time and energy to goals like graduation so when no one shows up, it may lead to them losing motivation to keep pursuing their goals. Senior Madeline Leduc greatly appreciated it when her mom showed up to her rowing competitions.

“Since rowing is a water sport, you can’t really follow but [my mom] ran along the channel with me while I was rowing,” Leduc said. “I felt less alone, because everyone else had their family with them, and I wanted my family to be with me.”

It may not seem obvious at first, but students also need to show up for their parents. When your parents ask you “How was your day?” after you buckled your seatbelt, do you say anything besides good? Even though it may seem insignificant to say more, an article by Kids Health discovered that purposefully talking to your parents helps strengthen your bond with them and makes it easier to discuss serious topics.

With the school year coming to a close, students are still as busy as beavers. However, no matter how busy life gets, try to keep in touch with your family. Like beavers, humans eventually move away from their relatives, whether for college or independence elsewhere. Cherish these moments while you’re still together; they don’t last forever.