Why You Need a Family Mission Statement
While the pandemic has turned our home and work lives upside down over the past year, it has also given us a perspective that was difficult to imagine in the world before COVID-19. On my best, most optimistic days, I see how the pandemic has forced my family to slow down their increasingly frantic schedule. He took us out more for bike rides, hikes, and backyard barbecues. It also clarified what was vital to our physical and mental health and what made us suffer from having to do without it.
When some end is visible (or at least the beginning of the end), my husband, son, and I talked about how we want our life to look after . My 10-year-old child spoke several times about how strange it would be to return to the old life, when we entered the crowd with naked faces, and our very presence was not a risk for our large family.
But I suspect it will sound strange for a while. I wonder if, in a few months or even weeks, the lessons we’re learning right now will fade away, gradually disintegrating, as is usually the case with bad dreams. But if we had to go through this nightmare, I at least want to learn its lessons.
A family mission statement can help us prioritize what we value at this time and guide future decision-making. Where do we want to go, who do we want to see, what do we want to achieve, and how do we want to relate to others?
If you, too, want to write a family mission statement, here are a few steps to help you get started.
Challenge brainstorming
Sure, creating a mission statement – and then trying to live it – is the ultimate goal, but bringing the whole family together and brainstorming is just as important as the final product. To truly convey the essence of the entire family, everyone’s voice needs to be heard (provided they are old enough to participate).
Name a formal brainstorming session outlining the mission of the family. Choose a time when everyone is well-rested, well-fed, and not busy at work or school, such as Saturday morning or late Sunday evening. To make it interesting and tangible, grab some brainstorming paper and pencils for everyone, a whiteboard with dry erase markers, or colorful sticky notes so everyone can jot down ideas. At the very least, everyone should be present and be able to be heard.
Collect ideas
Before you start coming up with ideas for inclusion in your mission statement, explain why you want to create it and what you want to achieve. The statement should ultimately reflect your family’s core values and act as a guiding element in making decisions big and small.
Family core values can include social, moral, religious, work, or recreational values. Some examples include generosity, honesty, respect, teamwork, patience, and unity. If you’re unsure of where to start, this list of family values from LoveToKnow is a good place to start.
It’s also helpful to brainstorm with a few conversation start questions such as these from the Leader in Me organization:
1. What is the purpose of our family?
2. What do we want to do?
3. What feelings do we want to experience in our home?
4. What kind of relationship do we want to have with each other?
5. What are our family’s priorities?
6. What are our responsibilities as family members?
7. How can we contribute to society as a family and become more service-oriented?
Write your mission
Since everyone in the family brainstorms values that are important to them, it’s great to look for recurring topics, but also keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers here. While honesty may be most important to one person, generosity may be at the top of others’ list. One family member may appreciate celebrating each other’s success, while the other appreciates being willing to try new things.
You don’t need to narrow it down to one or even multiple values. Each family member should feel represented in the final mission statement. After completing the brainstorming session, the parent or parents can begin drafting the statement itself with the children involved. Once everyone is happy with the final copy, send it somewhere everyone can see it, such as in the refrigerator, on a dry erase board, or a decorative board.
Remember, this statement is not set in stone. The values we prioritize change over time, so make it a point to review your mission statement once a year (or whenever it feels right) to see if there are any adjustments you would like to make. …