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Top Ten Reasons to Hold Family Meetings
By Dan and Suzanne Bond
1. Make stronger connections among individuals and,
therefore, creates a closer family.
In this very busy world, designating this time every week is
one way to ensure that family members stay connected with
one another. Relationships are living things, and must be
nurtured. Family meetings are about nourishing our
relationships with the most important people in our lives.
Form the habit of connecting regularly.
2. Create family value statements and operating principles.
Family meetings give you a chance to discuss what's
important to you as a family and to create family value
statements, which reflect your collective thoughts.
Similarly, they give you a chance to talk about how you want
to operate together as a family and treat one another, by
developing family operating principles.
3. Share appreciations and give thanks for our many
blessings.
This is a way to give children and adults permission to let
one another know how much they are appreciated, and to share
the many things they have to be thankful for. It is far too
easy to take the blessings in our lives, and our loved ones,
for granted if we do not form the habit of appreciating on a
regular basis.
4. Improves family communication
More and more today, family members are going in different
directions and at break-neck speed. Add to this the fact
that each person is unique and perceives the world in his or
her own way. Miscommunication can cause hard feelings. It
is crucial to never assume that what you are saying is being
understood the way you intended it, or that you are
understanding what others are trying to tell you. Always
take the time to check perceptions. The family meeting can
be a "rest area" where time is set aside to make certain
that communications are clear.
5. Provide leadership experience
Everyone gets a turn at leading the family meetings. This is
a great way for children to get early leadership experience.
Be certain that their contributions in this regard are
honored and respected. You will be building a confident
future leader, who will experience the joy of positive
leadership.
6. Offers an opportunity to stay current regarding upcoming
commitments, activities, and events.
Family meetings are wonderful opportunities to review the
family calendar, clarify who needs to be where and when, as
well as who will be taking responsibility for what. Once
again, clear communication and joint planning can relieve
the ongoing stress of busy lives.
7. Gives an avenue to celebrate each other's successes.
This is most important. Family meetings should always
contain a time to celebrate successes of each family member
during the week. These need not be big, monumental events
but can simply be every day successes. This not only
creates pride and joy in daily life, but also forms the
habit in each family member of looking for the positive in
one another.
8. Provides time to plan family vacations, activities, and
special events.
This gives everyone in the family a chance to give their
input into a family trip or experience, rather than the
adults always doing the planning. When the whole family is
involved, everyone is much more likely to enjoy the event.
Investment in family activities, for each member, is often
directly proportional to his or her involvement in the
planning. A richer shared experience is most often the
result.
9. Establish a safe, respectful environment to problem
solve.
By following the family's operating principles, and with
open and honest communication, children will learn that
problems can be discussed openly and solved respectfully
together. Creating win-win solutions takes practice, for
adults as well as for children and youth.
10. Have fun together
These meetings provide a great opportunity for the family to
participate in fun family activities. As family members get
to know one another better, share stories, laugh, and
problem solve together, deeper relationships develop. Try
to weave fun into every family meeting.
Related Articles:
Managing Your Family
Families That Dine Together Grow Wise Together
The Family Meeting
More articles on organizing your life
About the Author
From CoachVille's "Awesome Dads, dare to be a hero!"
community.
Copyright 2004 by CoachVille & Dan and Suzanne Bond
Duplication, with attribution, permitted and encouraged.
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