FHE: Getting on the Same Page

For Family Night this week we had our first annual "Getting on the Same Page Party."  With so many things going on with the family and all of our activities, we wanted to be intentional at the beginning of the new year that we were all "on the same page" about what our most important priorities are and what we are doing to progress as a family in those areas.  This is a new idea for us in our effort to be more united as a family.  We made invitations for each of the kids by printing out a paper (with minimal details) on the computer and gluing it to a page from the phone book.  They were told what time to come and that they needed to wear a hat and bring a pen and a spoon.  It intrigued them all and they were on board for the party before it even started.  

We began by everyone filling out a questionnaire about their birthday this coming year and what things were important to them (a birthday sign, a special birthday breakfast, a party with friends, dinner at a restaurant, birthday balloons, birthday spanks, etc.).  It was fun to compare similarities and differences when we were all done.  It was an introductory lesson to explain that we all don't have to be the same to be on the same page.  Now we know what we can do as a family to make birthdays special for individuals and we are united about those plans. 

 We moved on to discuss home cleanliness, kindness, and one-on-one time with kids and parents (after exploring our talents with birthday blowers!). We came up with plans in each of those areas.  We wrote up the plans and had each family member sign them before we hung them on the wall.  Now it's not mom's plan to manage the family--they were all a part of it and agreed about what things are important to them and what they each can do to help with those things.  I am hopeful that this will lead to greater success.

 

We ended by making a giant ice cream sundae for everyone to share.  We celebrated being on the same page by eating from the same bowl.  A bit of a stretch perhaps, but it was part of the fun memory.  Doing something out of the box is what it's all about, right?  It was a fun evening and we will definitely do it again as a way to set family goals for the year.