Family Rituals & Meetings

The following is an excerpt from Family GPS. See John for information on this course.

🔵 3a - Solidify Family Rituals

I recently spoke with one of the most successful parents (and mothers) I’ve ever known. I asked, “What was you secret when the kids were young.” Her answer was so simple- so telling; “I taught my kids that relationships come first.”

It's hard to cheerlead one another unless we create the time and activities that draw us closer. Cooperation and motivation grow much more naturally out of love and connection than it does out of rules.

Clarify and/or make some goals for family rituals i.e.

  • Family Dinner

  • Family Walks

  • Monthly camp outs

  • Super Saturdays (i.e. working together, followed by special breakfast)

  • Seasonal Traditions and Rituals i.e. Sub for Santa, Rescue Mission Work (Soup kitchen) etc.

  • Bedtime rituals i.e. back rubs, stories, mini-interview i.e. “What was the best part of your day?” etc.

  • Family prayer or meditation

  • Family book club (something uplifting you read together)

  • Weekly Church

  • etc.


Special note about church

⛪ According to Dr. Jordan Peterson, Dr. Brene Brown and hundreds of other thought leaders, attending church together (weekly) can provide immense value to your family.

Regardless of your spiritual beliefs- even if you are agnostic or atheist, church brings members of the community together to strengthen a mutual commitment to higher values such as service, patience, kindness, compassion and humility. These are values that are gradually fading from our society.

Church (pretty much any church) strengthens our commitment to these principles and provides opportunities to live them in your home and in your neighborhood. Don’t let all the crazy, hypocritical people at church scare you away. At some level, we’ve all got some screws loose, but we need each other in this world more than ever.

The benefits of getting involved with a local church are huge:

a) Teaching children that they are part of the larger world around them.

b) Growing close to each other in the service of others (even if it’s just to give someone a hug at church).

c) Training life values and principles that go a long way in your children’s careers and marriages

d) Learning to love and get along with people that are very different from us. Learning tolerance and compassion and in an increasingly diverse society.

e) Encouraging spiritual disciplines like prayer or mediation or uplifting content (vs. a constant stream of video games).

The next step (below) is synergistic with this one. Together, they support your family’s desire to become more loving, peaceful, fun and productive.


🔵 3b - Schedule Family Meetings

1) Family Inventory

This is a weekly family meeting which could even be a 10 minute section during weekly family meetings you’re already having. Sunday or Monday Nights are what most people choose.

  • What’s going well.

  • What isn’t.

  • Suggestions for improvement.

  • Progress on family plans, trips etc.


2) Personal Interviews

These can be sitting in your office, walking around the block, having lunch together, anything you’re comfortable with.

Parent Report Card (Excellent, Good or Needs Improvement in the following)

  • Attitude (lack of anger. Abundance of positive energy)

  • Presence at home (How is this parent doing in fun times, conversation or even watching T.V. together? More time recommended? “Please Help Me”s can come from parent here.

  • Child’s ideas on how he or she can best serve and assist child.