Family meetings have become an integral part in the keeping of a family. Family meetings are organized to talk about the problems that the family faces and the issues that need to be resolved. Every family should hold such meetings because they strengthen the family bond and the love between the family members. All the members learn to adapt to each other’s way of living and they start taking responsibilities for each other. The environment in the family stays positive with the members communicating all the problems and exploring solutions for it together. How should we hold family meetings?
If the environment in your family is chaotic and you feel that everything in your home is unorganized then it is the time that you talk to your family about it. The chaos does not only bother you but it also affects the other members. Living in a disfigured surrounding can affect the efficiency of the members. The mother wakes up in the morning and finds that the kids left all their belongings in the living room, the kids cannot get breakfast because both the parents are busy cleaning and one of them gets late to work because he or she had to drop the kids to school. One mess leads to another and it slows down the whole day’s activities. Every member should be responsible for some work at home so that the house can function smoothly.
If the family gets together to talk about the issues then they can find a solution to the problem by dividing the duties among each other. The children become punctual and hardworking. Cleaning their rooms, making the bed in the morning and getting ready for school or college will become a part of their routine every morning which will result in better time management. When the family meets regularly to discuss the latest issues then they exchange opinions with each other.
Members understand each other more and they become empathetic. There is positivity among all the members of the family because they know that they have someone to support them through thick and thin. Stress and tension reduce due to the optimistic approach in life. The children learn the family culture and values that are very significant for their knowledge. They will acquire the skills like problem-solving, planning, resolving conflicts and communication. When the kids participate in such family meetings they learn to communicate their thoughts better and they also grasp the procedure to deal with problems in their life. They will share everything with the parents and therefore the parents can protect their children from the illness of the world. Now that we know how vital family meeting is then we should learn how to hold family meetings.
#1. Schedule The Meetings Regularly
If you have decided to hold a family meeting then make sure that it is not one-time meeting. Issues will keep arising and you will need to arrange several meetings at frequent intervals. Remember that the meetings are not just about solving the problems but they are held to teach your kids about your culture and values. Family meetings are for increasing the trust and the bond between the family members which cannot be possible after meeting once a month. It is very important for a family to communicate every day but if you cannot do that every day because of work then plan a meeting every weekend. A Saturday or Sunday could be the family meeting day as per the family’s convenience. Make the family meeting a priority being the parents so that the children know that the family meeting is important. Take out time from your schedule considering your children’s plans for the day so that the meeting never gets canceled.
#2. Have An Agenda For Every Meeting
There should be agenda for every meeting. You should know what you are supposed to do during the meeting. You cannot sit and talk every time as that would make the children lose interest. You need to curate a way by which you can catch your kid’s attention. The teenagers always find a way to avoid such meeting because the parents scold or punish the children in these meetings. You can keep the punishments and anger away for some time. Make the family meetings a fun time where every member participates and has fun along with learning something new. Do not give boring lectures to the children because they will not pay attention and once they lose their attention they will not be active members during the meeting. If the kids or the parents are upset then the whole idea of a family meeting will not benefit at all because the meeting without cheer and joy will spoil the mood of the other members.
#3. Invite Every Member To Participate
Invite all the members of the family who live under the same roof. Every member’s presence is required for a healthy environment in the house. When the duties will be divided then every member should be there so that none is left without a duty. No member should be given a relaxation except for the old ones. Every member from a child to an adult should have a responsibility that they can handle. If someone is sick then their duty shall be passed on to another member so that they learn sharing their work. If someone is away due to some reasons then the meeting should not stop. Discussions should be held every week. Every member should have something to say and something to do.
#4. Participation Should Not Be Compulsory
Though participation of every member is necessary it should not be made compulsory. Kids find it very hard to do something they are compelled to do because kids ten to like breaking the rules and norms the authorities create. So, if you compel them to participate they will probably get repelled by the idea of a family meeting. Teenagers do not like socializing with their parents because they think the parents will not understand them. After some time the children will stop by just to see what happens in the meeting. If they find it interesting and casual then they will take interest in the meetings. Do not make a fuss when you do not find the children for the meeting or on time for the meeting.
#5. Begin With Healthy Conversations
The ideal conversation in a family should be affirmative. The thoughts and perceptions should be encouraging and appreciating. Start with thanking every member for appearing in the meeting. Begin with the family’s importance in your life and how elated you feel for holding the family meeting. Make sure the vibes are cool and casual so that the teenagers feel comfortable. Appreciate all the family members for their qualities and strengths. Allow every person to speak but do not force them to have a word. Discuss what is happening in the lives of all the members. Discuss the good memories you have spent together and all the good things that have happened to the family. If you wish to tell someone about something they may have done wrong then tell them politely. Be kind and compassionate while speaking so that it does not appear that you are disappointed. Feel proud of your family and let them know that you are proud of them.
#6. Distribute Responsibilities For The Meeting
It should not be the duty of one person to hold the meetings. The meeting is not a simple task because it needs an agenda and new ideas. Distribute the responsibility to hold the meeting in shifts. Every person will be responsible for the family meeting and there should be a penalty for the one who fails to organize one. Whosoever organizes the meeting will have an idea how to manage a meeting and how to be punctual. Every member from the oldest to the youngest should be involved in the process because this is the right time to learn and practice. There can be a leader and a manager working together for the meeting if one does not want all the responsibility for themselves. The leader will be the thinker and informer and the manager will arrange the stuff needed for the meeting along with deciding the propaganda of the meeting.
#7. Get Creative About The Meetings
The meeting should not be dull and boring. The leader of the meeting should come up with creative activities that are fun to do and also teaches something new and different. These activities will excite the members and the family will enjoy their time together. People spend time with their friends and relatives but they do not spend time with each other. Playing games will make the family more compatible with each other. The space you choose to hold the meeting should be a warm and cozy place where the family can discuss their private lives. Home is the best place for such meetings but if the family meeting is going to be a fun day then it could be planned away from your home.
Do you hold family meetings at your place? How is your experience of a family meeting? Discuss your views and experiences with us through the comments section below.
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