Comments on: Consider this: Family Mission Statements http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html A dad's eye view of baby and toddler stuff Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:26:36 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jodi http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1420 jodi Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:12:26 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1420 <p>We lived in Raleigh when we were first married and had friends who had done the same thing...theirs was beautifully displayed combined with a black & white photo of themselves...I loved it. I still think it would be a great idea for us to do now, we've just never taken the time. Thanks for the reminder!</p> We lived in Raleigh when we were first married and had friends who had done the same thing…theirs was beautifully displayed combined with a black & white photo of themselves…I loved it. I still think it would be a great idea for us to do now, we’ve just never taken the time. Thanks for the reminder!

]]> By: Sara http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1419 Sara Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:09:40 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1419 <p>While I would probably never write down, frame and display a mission statement for my family (not really my style), I think this is something that is an important discussion for every couple to have and have often, before kids, with infants, with teenagers, etc. Often we get sidetracked with all the busyness of our lives and we can lose focus of the big picture. As you discuss these items with your significant other/spouse/family, it reminds you why you do certain things and why you don't do others. It unites you in one purpose. My hubby and I have mini-mission-statement-like conversations all the time, and usually in response to an issue that comes up in our day, at work or on the news, etc. It sparks discussion, we talk about viewpoints, and conclude how we would like our family to be. Such important things, and an ongoing conversation we would never end.</p> While I would probably never write down, frame and display a mission statement for my family (not really my style), I think this is something that is an important discussion for every couple to have and have often, before kids, with infants, with teenagers, etc. Often we get sidetracked with all the busyness of our lives and we can lose focus of the big picture. As you discuss these items with your significant other/spouse/family, it reminds you why you do certain things and why you don’t do others. It unites you in one purpose. My hubby and I have mini-mission-statement-like conversations all the time, and usually in response to an issue that comes up in our day, at work or on the news, etc. It sparks discussion, we talk about viewpoints, and conclude how we would like our family to be. Such important things, and an ongoing conversation we would never end.

]]> By: Joe http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1418 Joe Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:28:35 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1418 <p>My wife & I have kind of an ongoing chat about this, where we discuss what we like in the world and what we don't like, and how we can incorporate and avoid the likes & dislikes.</p> <p>I laughed when I read the comments about being at work, because I agree... hanging inspirational things on the wall sort of robs the words of the inspiration after a while. But reading it for the first time is very nice!</p> My wife & I have kind of an ongoing chat about this, where we discuss what we like in the world and what we don’t like, and how we can incorporate and avoid the likes & dislikes.

I laughed when I read the comments about being at work, because I agree… hanging inspirational things on the wall sort of robs the words of the inspiration after a while. But reading it for the first time is very nice!

]]> By: Darby http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1417 Darby Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:45:49 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1417 <p>I think it's great. I find it akin to putting beautiful, expressive photographs of your family, children, friends and pets on the walls of your home. We do at our home, and just looking at our photos brings all the same things to mind that their mission statement does. </p> <p>Also, I am reminded again of why I am NOT a cat person. </p> I think it’s great. I find it akin to putting beautiful, expressive photographs of your family, children, friends and pets on the walls of your home. We do at our home, and just looking at our photos brings all the same things to mind that their mission statement does.

Also, I am reminded again of why I am NOT a cat person.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1416 Rachel Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:02:44 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1416 <p>I kinda like this. It's hokey on the one hand, but it's a nice type of list of affirmations for the family, something to take a little time out and reflect on on occasion when things get hectic or you're having a bad parenting day. Those things happen to the best of us.</p> <p>PP is right in that it sounds Landmarkish in a way, but I don't think everything coming out of that or similar types of "Self-work" practices are bad at all. Take what is useful, leave the rest, which is pretty much my philosophy in life all around.</p> I kinda like this. It’s hokey on the one hand, but it’s a nice type of list of affirmations for the family, something to take a little time out and reflect on on occasion when things get hectic or you’re having a bad parenting day. Those things happen to the best of us.

PP is right in that it sounds Landmarkish in a way, but I don’t think everything coming out of that or similar types of “Self-work” practices are bad at all. Take what is useful, leave the rest, which is pretty much my philosophy in life all around.

]]> By: kelli http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1415 kelli Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:02:38 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1415 <p>I like this "family rules" painting. Sort of along the same lines:<br /> <a href="http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2007/01/art-of-childhood.html" rel="nofollow">http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2007/01/art-of-childhood.html</a></p> I like this “family rules” painting. Sort of along the same lines:
http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2007/01/art-of-childhood.html

]]> By: bombaygirl http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1414 bombaygirl Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:01:01 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1414 <p>Sounds very Landmark Forum to me. </p> Sounds very Landmark Forum to me.

]]> By: My Boaz's Ruth http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1413 My Boaz's Ruth Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:15:13 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1413 <p>I love this!<br /> Another bloggy friend of mine, <a href="http://www.chrisandjenni.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.chrisandjenni.com/</a> also has a family vision statement. There's is on their blog.</p> <p>I wish we had such a thing (and I don't think you need to wait to have children and them be old enough to contribute. IT is never too early or too late to figure out what your family is going to be about.</p> <p>Sure, if you are doing it with children, include them. But a family is a family before the children come along and after they move out of the house too.</p> I love this!
Another bloggy friend of mine, http://www.chrisandjenni.com/ also has a family vision statement. There’s is on their blog.

I wish we had such a thing (and I don’t think you need to wait to have children and them be old enough to contribute. IT is never too early or too late to figure out what your family is going to be about.

Sure, if you are doing it with children, include them. But a family is a family before the children come along and after they move out of the house too.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1412 Stephanie Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:28:35 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1412 <p>I wouldn't take this as being like work, but rather like a different kind of poetry. It refocuses your attention on what is really important and what your priorities are. If it isn't something you really inspires you, then of course it's going to feel like work. It's like a prayer without being preachy. When you took marriage vows (which are very similar), did you feel like it was work? I think it's nice to have something to go back to as a reminder of what you aspire to be as a family. </p> I wouldn’t take this as being like work, but rather like a different kind of poetry. It refocuses your attention on what is really important and what your priorities are. If it isn’t something you really inspires you, then of course it’s going to feel like work. It’s like a prayer without being preachy. When you took marriage vows (which are very similar), did you feel like it was work? I think it’s nice to have something to go back to as a reminder of what you aspire to be as a family.

]]> By: Ticia http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2008/06/missionstatemen.html/comment-page-1#comment-1411 Ticia Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:18:50 +0000 http://s54748.gridserver.com/baby/2008/06/consider-this-family-mission-statements.html#comment-1411 <p>In a class I took, they talked about family mission statements or constitutions. As they talked about it you made it after the kids were born and everyone agreed and signed it. Rather like the country's Constitution when it was made. They also encouraged revisiting it from time to time to see if it's still what your family wanted. It's helpful because it's what the whole family agreed to and the kids can't say they didn't know the rules were there. I think we might do one at a point where our kids are a little older (read not 3 and 18 months).</p> In a class I took, they talked about family mission statements or constitutions. As they talked about it you made it after the kids were born and everyone agreed and signed it. Rather like the country’s Constitution when it was made. They also encouraged revisiting it from time to time to see if it’s still what your family wanted. It’s helpful because it’s what the whole family agreed to and the kids can’t say they didn’t know the rules were there. I think we might do one at a point where our kids are a little older (read not 3 and 18 months).

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