Family Meetings

Many families have discovered the value of family meetings - a weekly time when families huddle together for encouragement, schedule arranging, problem solving, or decision-making. Keep these guidelines in mind from tom McMahon's book Teen tips (Pocket Books) when planning your own family meetings.

1. Set a regular time and stick to it.
   Sunday evenings work well for many families.
2. Encourage or require attendance.
   Let family members know that, if absent, they will have to live with the decisions made by the rest of the family.
3. Shoot for 30 minutes.
   You'll hold family members' attention and ensure attendance by keeping meetings short.
4. Post an agenda.
   By posting the agenda in a prominent place, family members know what will be discussed and can add their own items to the list.
5. Encourage participation.
   Have family members take turns moderating the meeting. Moderators keep the discussion on track and on time and encourage input from everyone.
6. Most of all, keep things upbeat.
   Use the meetings as a time to affirm, encourage, and pray for other family members - not just to cover family "business."