Parenting is like sculpting; each decision, each conversation shapes the story of your family’s life together. Open discussions where ideas are heard, considered, and appreciated can sculpt and refine healthy relationships.
Family Meetings Create Togetherness
Imagine sculpting a snowman with your kids. The snow is deep and soft. As you help your children roll the snowball, you wonder about the masterpiece you and your family will create. No matter how it looks, your children will love it because you did it together. Likewise, Family conversations bring you together too.
What Parents Need
Michelangelo, the famous artist and sculptor, needed patience and skill to create his amazing statues.
So too, it takes time and patience to shape your children’s values and beliefs. You choose a topic, ask them for their thoughts, and listen. They share what they think. You gently share your ideas too. They learn to listen. A deeper bond develops. You are the sculptor of your family’s values.
The Power of Family Discussions
Family discussions create a loving unity because members understand each other. Many benefits grow from this understanding:
- Learning empathy for each other when a difficulty is shared. Empathy learned at home can also spread to a classmate in need.
- Boosting self-expression at home can add confidence when speaking up at school.
- Building a safe space for children to be themselves can help them share.
- Recognizing and developing each child’s individuality helps them value themselves.
- Encouraging resilience in children after a failure helps them realize that getting back on track strengthens them.
2 Discussion Action Steps for Parents
- Start a family discussion once a week at dinner or a specific time that’s good for the whole family.
- Place a small fancy discussion box in the middle of the family table. Cut little notes for members to write their discussion ideas and add to the box. Smaller children can tell you what to write.
Sculpting Your Family Conclusion
With each discussion, you patiently mold a beautiful family relationship. The final result will be a masterpiece of understanding, love, and connection. Here’s to your success in creating that masterpiece.
~ With thanks to Jean Tracy, MSS: Powerful Tools for Parents, KidsDiscuss.com
