Jill spills: Family Manifestos Create Connection and Unity
As you already know, parenthood is a rollercoaster journey filled with highs, lows, twists, and turns. As our children transition into their teens and young adulthood, it becomes even more essential to cultivate an environment where everyone's voice is heard, valued, and respected. Hands down, one of the greatest things we can do to strengthen our family’s foundation is create a Family Manifesto which represents each individual and values family unity. Creating this together will bond, empower, ground, and inspire each member of your unique family. Here are some helpful guidelines below to get you started.
INTENTION:
A family manifesto serves as a guiding light, reminding us of our shared values, aspirations, and the principles that define our family. It encourages open communication, strengthens relationships, and provides a sense of belonging. By involving all family members in its creation, we honor everyone’s voice, and our manifesto truly represents our collective spirit.
SET THE STAGE:
To kick-start the process, gather the family together for a special gathering. Create an atmosphere of ease, comfort, and sincerity. Perhaps, a backyard picnic, or build your own pizza night, or a fun-filled game night at home. Let this be a safe space where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts, dreams, and goals. This is a great opportunity to become skilled in listening, and accepting.
VALUE VOICES:
Give each family member the opportunity to share what they believe is important to our family. Have fun with this and cherish this discussion. This isn’t supposed to feel heavy and serious. It’s meant to honor what we value, believe, and desire – as individuals and as a team. Encourage openness, and let them spill their hearts and minds. This will be a sacred opportunity to really hear what’s on the minds and hearts of our teens and young adults. Value their unique perspectives, and acknowledge their ideas, even if they differ from yours. Remember, this process is about building a family bond that includes everyone.
CORE VALUES:
From the shared ideas, identify the core values that resonate with your family as a whole. These values will serve as the foundation of your manifesto—those timeless principles that guide your actions and decisions. Examples may include kindness, honesty, respect, empathy, humor, forgiveness, and perseverance. Together, you will create a powerful and foundational moral compass that shapes your family's identity.
CREATE THE MANIFESTO:
Now it's time to bring all the elements together and craft your family manifesto. Allow the language to represent your entire family: Humorous; heartfelt; pragmatic; and/or clever. Encourage creativity! Involve your artistic kids to design a visual representation of our manifesto—a logo, family crest, mural, a collage, or even a video. This will make it more engaging and meaningful for everyone involved.
CELEBRATE AND HONOR:
Once your family manifesto is complete, celebrate this momentous achievement! Share it with pride, displaying it prominently in our home. Remember to revisit and discuss the manifesto regularly, allowing it to guide your actions and decision-making processes. Encourage family members to hold each other accountable, ensuring you all live up to the values you hold dear and true.
Creating a family manifesto is an extraordinary gift to all members of the family. It will deeply seed within your family’s soil, and become rooted in unity, respect, and love. Your family’s manifesto will strengthen your familial bonds, empower each member, and will ground your family in shared values. As parents, we are the leaders, leading by example. We play a crucial role in creating an environment where everyone's voice is respected, heard, and valued. Time to embark on this adventure together and watch as your family grows closer, wiser, and happier. Remember, families who flow together, grow together!
