Family life can be incredibly busy. Am I right?!
Between school, work, sports, extracurricular activities, social commitments, and the never-ending chores, it’s easy to reach the end of the week and realise you’ve hardly spoken to your kids. And I mean REALLY spoken to them — not just the ‘how was your day?’ chats, but rather the deep, ‘how are you, really?’ type conversations.
However, instead, they’ve spent most of their ‘home time’ camped out in their rooms, and the idea — or dream — of having a happy and connected family feels challenging, just another item on your endless to-do list.
The Growing Disconnect
Week after week, the same routine plays out, and you start to feel a growing disconnect with your family. Everyone is going through the motions, and slowly, you begin to drift apart. Your kids might start talking back or doing their own thing without communicating with you.
Before you know it, the divide has grown so wide that bridging the gap feels daunting, almost impossible. You long for a time when your kids talk openly about their lives and genuinely want to spend time with you.
A Simple Solution: Weekly Family Meetings
Now, would you believe me if I told you there’s an EASY way to become a more connected and happy family? All it requires is a commitment to spend some time together every week. I know, finding time from your already busy schedule seems tough.
But trust me, the results are worth it. It certainly was for my family and me. After three years, we’re still going strong, and it remains the one thing that keeps us connected as a family. It’s definitely worth a try, right?!
The Benefits of Regular Meetings
So, what’s the solution? A Weekly Family Meeting. I know it sounds simple and maybe even a bit boring, but it’s often the simple solutions that have the most impact. By setting aside dedicated time each week to come together, you can foster better communication, set shared goals, and ensure everyone feels heard and valued.
Creating a Supportive Environment
For instance, imagine a space where everyone knows they have a voice, where the week’s plans and schedules are laid out clearly, and where each family member can express their thoughts and feelings without interruption. This isn’t just about organizing your week; it’s about reconnecting with each other on a deeper level and truly growing as a family unit.
Click here to download your FREE Family Meeting Checklist and get started!
Consistent Commitment Builds Strong Relationships
By committing to this weekly routine, you’ll create a stronger, more connected, and happier family. It’s a small investment of time with a big payoff in harmony and togetherness.
Additionally, if you’re looking for more parenting ideas, I invite you to check out : 5 PARENTING TIPS THAT ARE WORKING FOR ME RIGHT NOW
The Story Behind Our Family Meetings
Similarly, our family started having regular family meetings when we noticed that we were becoming increasingly disconnected. With Dad away for work most weeks, combined with our busy schedules and individual activities, we were struggling to stay connected as a family.
Our youngest, in particular, had a hard time with Dad being away so much and the lack of routine and structure that came with it, which resulted in some BIG feelings that were getting increasingly hard to deal with. At this point, both my therapist and a child psychologist we were seeing recommended that we start and commit to weekly family meetings.
Seeing the Positive Changes
We decided to give family meetings a try, and the impact has been amazing. So much so, that I find myself constantly telling people about them, especially when they share their struggles with managing relationships with their tweens and teens.
These meetings have become a safe space for all of us to share our thoughts and feelings, plan our week, and celebrate our successes. Our kids have started opening up more, and we’ve all become more aware of each other’s needs and concerns. It’s brought us closer together and strengthened our family bond in ways we never imagined.
Navigating Difficult Conversations
Having our Sunday Family Meeting has also made it easier to have the more challenging conversations. If issues come up during the week that require time and focus to resolve, we all agree that those will be addressed at our family meeting.
Getting Started with Your Family Meetings
It really is worth giving family meetings a try. I understand the overwhelm you may be feeling about starting something new or adding this to your already busy weeks. So, to ease into it smoothly, here are five key things to consider before getting started:
- Find a Day + Time
Choose a consistent day and time that works for everyone’s schedules and energy levels. Start with short (30-minute) meetings. - Pick a Comfy + Distraction-Free Space
Put phones and devices away to focus on each other. Decide on a space where everyone feels comfortable and safe. - Have a Loose Structure
Have a list of key topics but leave space for spontaneous discussions and fun! - Keep It Fun + Light
Include activities or topics to keep everyone engaged, especially the younger ones. - Be Patient + Adapt
Start small and change things up to suit your family. You get to make the rules for how your family meetings work.
Your FREE Family Meeting Checklist
You might be thinking, “We don’t have time for another meeting,” or “We already eat dinner together every night, why would we need these meetings?” But family meetings don’t have to be long — they can be as short as half an hour. And while dinner is a great time to catch up, a dedicated family meeting allows you to address specific topics, set goals, and plan for the week in a structured way.
To make it even easier, I’ve created a Family Meeting Checklist. This checklist will help guide your sessions, ensuring that important topics are covered and that everyone gets a chance to participate.
Ready to start your family meetings? Download your FREE Family Meeting Checklist here!
A family meeting checklist helps keep things structured and ensures that important topics are covered. With this checklist, you’ll be able to:
- Discuss everyone’s schedules and plans for the upcoming week, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts.
- Set family goals and work together to achieve them, fostering a sense of teamwork and shared purpose.
- Address any concerns or issues that have come up, allowing for resolution before they become bigger problems.
- Celebrate successes and milestones, no matter how small, which helps build a positive family culture.
- Encourage each family member to share something about their week, promoting open communication and empathy.
Get your FREE Family Meeting Checklist and start making family meetings a rewarding tradition!
Important: Start and End on a High Note
It’s crucial that everyone stays committed to making the family meeting a non-negotiable part of your weekly routine. From my experience, the key is to start and end each meeting on a light and positive note. Here’s how you can ensure your family meetings begin and conclude with positivity and enthusiasm:
Opening & Connection: Start with compliments, gratitudes, and acknowledgements. Each family member shares a compliment or a thank you for each other, which helps set a positive tone. Then, everyone briefly shares a highlight and/or a challenge from the week. This is a great way to stay connected with what’s going on in each other’s lives.
Fun Family Activity: It’s important to end on a positive note with a fun family activity. This could be anything from an outdoor adventure, a family picnic, or a family dance party—whatever your family enjoys and everyone will happily participate in.
Our family started with activities like mini-golf, but now we commit to a family movie night every Sunday. This fun activity not only rewards everyone for participating but also reinforces the family bond and makes the meeting something to look forward to.
Make Family Meetings Your New Tradition
Starting a tradition of weekly family meetings can feel like a big change, but the benefits far outweigh the initial effort. Think of your weekly family meetings as an investment, not a chore. They can truly become a cornerstone of your family life, providing a consistent time for connection, planning, and celebration. As you continue to hold these meetings, you’ll likely find that your family grows closer and more in tune with each other’s needs and feelings.
For us, after many years, we now look forward to our weekly meetings. We actually miss them when we need to skip one. Over time, my boys have become so good at giving incredibly insightful compliments, often wanting to go first with their compliments. This is a big change from when we started, and they wanted to skip theirs or go last.
Consistency is Key
Remember, the key is consistency and patience. It may take a few meetings to find your rhythm so please try not to get discouraged. Keep the focus on creating a positive, supportive environment where everyone feels heard and valued.
So, why not give it a try? Download your FREE Family Meeting Checklist and start this week.
You might be surprised at how much closer your family can become with just a small investment of time each week. Imagine the shared laughter, deeper understanding, and stronger bonds that could come from this simple routine.
If you’re determined to create a more connected and happy family and decide to give this a go, I would love to hear about your experiences. Please email me and let me know how it goes. Your stories and experiences inspire me, and they might help others too!
PS. If you’re looking for more parenting ideas, I invite you to check out : 5 PARENTING TIPS THAT ARE WORKING FOR ME RIGHT NOW