Ready, Aim, Achieve! - Become An On-purpose Family Through Goal Setting -

Home
>
Parenting
>
Ready, Aim, Achieve! - Become An On-purpose Family Through Goal Setting

Ready, Aim, Achieve! - Become An On-purpose Family Through Goal Setting

Successful families don't just happen. They take time, talent and planning. This month, in addition to any personal resolutions you make, consider sitting down with your family to reflect on your collective accomplishments and dreams. Then set some family goals for the year ahead.

How to begin ?

Schedule. Set aside a few hours over a series of nights, and gather together everyone in your home. Your teens will need notice, but tasty treats might help attendance.

Share the purpose. You will be discussing your wants, dreams and the values you hold important in your lives, then using them to develop goals to guide your family.

Reflect. Consider having each member choose and record one really important goal from each category:

Health
Financial
Relationships
Career
Community
Spiritual
Intellectual

Discuss. Share your ideas. Be open and accepting. Some might need to a little coaxing to share, for fear of being ridiculed. However, if done in an atmosphere of mutual respect, this can be a great opportunity to really get to know your family! It can also give insight into people's frustrations & stressors, as you learn about the ideals they hold important in their lives

Analyze. Are they feasible? Are they specific enough? Look for similarities. Do any overlap with others?

Write. Now collectively create a series of statements to both collapse and capture these common desires. These will become your family goals. For example:

We are a kind and loving family who is thankful for all that we have.
We value & support family and friends.
We exercise regularly and lead healthy lives.
We share our time, talents and resources with others.
We invest in the future financially and spiritually.
We strive for excellence in education, and encourage life-long learning.

Celebrate. You now have a set of goals to help guide your family's decision-making. Everyone can now weigh choices against these statements to determine if they lead your family closer or further from your family's goals.

Post & review. Whether you frame your goals or carry copies in your wallets, take time each day, week, & month to reflect and review what you have accomplished. Are you making choices which support these goals? Don't worry if you slip. Even the most effective families can be off track most of the time! The trick that keeps them on target is their shared sense of focus and destination. They know where they are headed, and they keep coming back to it.

Thoughts to ponder ?

Change is hard. Old habits are difficult to overcome. Be patient and supportive of one another.

Involve everyone. The process of family goal setting can help give family members a better sense of "voice". Telling your family what their goals are will not promote acceptance.

Take your time. Creating family goals should be a process, not a one day event.

Regardless of your family type ? big, small, divorced or blended, adoptive or otherwise, successful families don't just happen. So, make a plan and provide the focus needed to achieve your dreams & goals.

For additional information be sure to check out:

The On-Purpose Person: Making Your Life Make Sense by Kevin McCarthy

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen Covey

Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Dr. Phil McGraw

Award-winning educator, speaker and author, Rob Stringer coaches and assists parents with his upbeat approach to learning, and parenting. For more ideas, resources or workshop information, visit http://www.RobStringer.com or call (905) 544-1938 today.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html%3Fid%3D7fbc9b87-5851-4062-b62a-3ed817b03342cid=1254838181ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNGSPoVGg_HLxzoNyooYyryAY77wLwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=OcvMj0_nK5sJimgurl=a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/4bffca32-8393-4582-a216-f2db7777bafd/fordfocus06.jpg%3Fsize%3Dl width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Vancouver Sun/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.greatdad.com/tertiary/274/3201/new-car-technology-to-aid-parenting-skills.htmlcid=1254838181ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNE_vLAHxFKBPNjrt6vrXO9R8Ouu1QNew car technology to aid bparenting/b skills/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGreat Dad,nbsp;Californianbsp;-/font nobr41 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Thereâ€™s also a low-fuel warning which kicks in at 75 miles to empty - in case your children ignore your wise bparenting/b advice and spend more time reveling b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/519728.html%3Fnav%3D5004cid=1254838181ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNGss7U4e2Wdus43eM_cc9YARzPtnAbParenting/b and technology â€” is it protection or control?/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMinot Daily News/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/007890.htmlcid=1254838181ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNHQ_yFSvGxE167dyeokIk2iPSpkmAMyKey Turns Your Ford Focus into Your Mom/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPC World/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/3147296/Parents-to-control-how-fast-children-drive.htmlcid=1254838181ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNGpOJcz3rYS89FmU9LsEA5HPcYfUgbParents/b to control how fast children drive/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTelegraph.co.uk/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/car-tech/ford-launches-mykey-parental-controls-for-cars-474055cid=1254838181ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNETLGitTFPzJWvfaUPJuSzqJ-M46QnobrTechRadar.com/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/young-at-the-wheel-and-at-risk/%3Fhpcid=1254838181ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNEhvOryCjJczMJjRuDi3ikqvtkAAgnobrNew York Times/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254838181hl=ennobrall 876 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/10/07/news/100808azfeaturebriefs.txtcid=0ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNH1j8p_byGBpoqU793O1LMiwximEAbParenting/b Class Offered Thursday/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Morning News,nbsp;ARnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By THE MORNING NEWS The Northwest Arkansas Child Care Resource and Referral Center will present a free bparenting/b class Thursday on the impact of second-hand b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.pr-inside.com/author-shares-method-for-parenting-on-r848042.htmcid=1255144226ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNEd-o711J-POybRE1LAjvktPfA2SwAuthor shares method for #39;bParenting/b on Purpose#39; to benefit children/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung),nbsp;Austrianbsp;-/font nobr18 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By extending his advice to bparents/b and guardians of children between the ages of birth and ten, he empowers them through his own encounters and special b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081007/NEIGHBORS01/810079951/-1/NEIGHBORScid=0ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNEhyyz3GLAww1TKd1zKgKRAYirj2AAttend first of five bparenting/b talks/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNashua Telegraph,nbsp;NHnbsp;-/font nobr17 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bParent/b-to-bParent/b and the Milford Police Department will present the first of a series of five bparent/b-planned interactive talks for bparents/b of elementary and b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/lifestyles/local/article/advocacy_center_helps_with_challenges_of_parenting/39850/cid=0ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNEg7uyoYZLcw3gkJ6xFf_hC4qnZ6QAdvocacy center helps with challenges of bparenting/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fDothan Eagle,nbsp;ALnbsp;-/font nobr20 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1However, most bparents/b struggle to meet these requirements daily with little guidance and support, according to Liz Martin, program director at the Southeast b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.digtriad.com/news/gms/article.aspx%3Fstoryid%3D111993%26catid%3D67cid=0ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNH9CCmHYIwa367WZ83SzRgYr9CnhwbParenting/b Wisely: Sibling Rivalry amp; Assertive Discipline/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWFMY News 2,nbsp;NCnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1This week, the bParenting/b Wisely seminars in Thomasville take on sibling issues. bParenting/b expert Terri Nelson joins us this morning. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.dailynet.de/International/26906.phpcid=1255151621ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNEHbpG5IghyZt1K5cNLNsmW4rTJjQG+J launches quot;bParenting/b Networkquot; as first transnational online project/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fDailynet,nbsp;Germanynbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1October â€“ G+J International is establishing a new international bparenting/b network, based on the German ELTERN.de website, in a move which represents G+J#39;s b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.modbee.com/1597/story/454590.htmlcid=0ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNHXaPcdWJgvO0pWHytzEZOuYN71YQbParenting/b Tips/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fModesto Bee,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Tom McMahon One of the biggest mistakes bparents/b make is not following through with a threat or rule. Kids know immediately that they don#39;t have to comply b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081007/OPINION/810070307/1005cid=0ei=_mTsSO21Hpf-6gOrnfz-CAusg=AFQjCNFShW3pr6PmBQ-FJHWXQVbtWlkAiwTen things I#39;ve learned about bparenting/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fRankin Ledger,nbsp;MSnbsp;-/font nobrOct 6, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Leilani Salter I f you were a fan of our bparenting/b Web site, mississippimoms.com, you#39;ve probably noticed that it has changed. It#39;s now momslikeme.com b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

parenting - Google News