ABCnews helps families understand how to find common goals and ways to achieve them.
Kate Rice writes (excerpt):
Stop and examine your lives and think about what your family believes in. “We’re so busy reacting to what comes up in our lives that very few — and I’ve interviewed thousands of parents through our newsletter — very few parents pause and examine their lives,” says Doe. They think they don’t have time, but it’s a good way to keep the important things in life from being shoved onto the back burner.
Make sure that what you’re doing supports what you believe in. Is child-rearing your most important goal? “If your activities don’t contribute to that primary goal of raising your children, then you’ve got to look at them with some level of inquiry,” says Morris.
The approach of spring makes it a perfect time to look at your family’s schedule. How has it gone since school started? Are you feeling too scheduled? Do the kids have time for outdoor activities? “Sit down with your family and consciously manage your spring schedule,” says Doe.
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Today is the source of memories and lessons for life. “I’ve got kids who are leaving home,” says Keyser. “When your kids are at home you sort of think it’s going to last forever. But it’s not and this day-to-day interaction is the stuff that … memories get made out of and not only memories, but values. . . . Opportunities avail themselves to us when we’re least expecting them.”