Family Meetings Help Kids Discuss and Build Character Too
When my boys were growing up, soccer, football, and basketball
kept us on the run. Both my husband (Jim's a psychologist) and I
were therapists. We helped others manage their lives yet our own
lives were spinning out of control. We knew we needed to make
face-to-face time with our boys. We wanted them to share our
values, to learn how to solve people problems, and to have
family fun together.
Worried about who's influencing your kids? Are your family
members too busy for each other? Do activities, television, and
computers replace family time? If so, there is an answer.
We decided to start Family Meetings so we bought one of
those books with empty pages. We scheduled our meetings the same
time every week, right after Sunday breakfast.
Our youngest son, Brian, was only four when we started. I
remember laughing to myself when his brother, Scott, age 8, got
mad because Brian always chose the same thing "to make the
family better." "I'll draw a picture for the refrigerator,"
promised Brian. "That doesn't make the family better," argued
Scott. Brian kept on drawing pictures.
Over the years we found many ways "to make the family
better:"
1. We played family games.
2. We planned family trips.
3. The boys promised to do their homework before playing.
4.
Scott promised not to tease Brian.
5. Brian promised to
clear the table right after dinner, etc.
Once we got started we felt a special closeness as we worked
together. You will too. That's why I created Character
Building with the Family Meeting Diary.
Remember how Brian always drew pictures to "make the family
better?" Brian's an adult now. He still draws pictures. In fact,
he designed my website. Be sure and take a peak. It's listed
below.