2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 11:16
Another holiday season is behind us! It's time to take down the tree and make plans for the new year. But what are our plans for the family?
The beginning of the year is often a time for reflection. We allow ourselves to reset the counter and try to convince ourselves that we are really going to stick to our resolutions “this time”. Let's not hide, we believe less and less in resolutions. What if we put aside the personal resolutions that often get forgotten anyway?
My suggestion for you at the beginning of the year is to forget the classic personal resolutions, and create what I call, family resolutions… Not about performance (for example, losing weight) nor chores but rather resolutions based on values that are dear to you and that you want to share with all members of the family.
Sharing our resolutions is proven to help keep them. It is also proven that when a resolution makes sense (besides an immediate result), we are more likely to maintain it and have the discipline to make things happen. So what better than to live thisfamily success!
A collaborative project
Family resolutions help foster cooperation and increase a sense of belonging. As a bonus, when these are maintained, we concretize the values of perseverance and discipline… for all members of the family.
Warning: one project is more than enough. The magic is in sharing a common goal! Out of ideas? Get inspired by the suggestions below.
- Make gratitudean active value (thank the porter, recognize the effort of the cook, appreciate small pleasures, for example)
- Opening up to cultures differentfrom our own (through meals, walks, reading, sightseeing, etc.)
- Book and share quality time(visiting relatives, family game night, etc.)
- Make more room for culturein family activities (outing to the museum, doing a puppet show, discovering a festival, exploring everyone's musical tastes)
Family fun
To make progress more concrete for the little ones, we can create a motivation system in the form of a game.
For example: we use a pot, tokens and a family reward that is dear to you (trip, family outing, a weekend in pajamas, etc.) to reach our resolution. Each step brings the whole family closer to the reward!
Whenever an action inconsistency with the resolution is implemented by a member of the family, a token is added to the resolution pot. Once the pot is full, all members participate in the family activity determined at the beginning.
I wish you, I wish all of us, that 2017 will be a year of collaboration, fun and progress… as a family!
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