Life in most households with children can be hectic. Everyone is racing from work to school to practice to play dates to the grocery store to activities. While many families value giving and wish to make it part of life, it can be difficult to make time and space for incorporating regular conversation and action specific to helping others.
To help your family focus its philanthropic efforts and endeavors and clarify that which you care about as a group, come together to create your Family’s Mission in Helping. Not only will this make it easier to make helping others a priority, it will help your whole family recognize opportunities to make a difference and keep it top of mind.
Here’s how:
- Include the whole family. Be sure to include everyone in your household regardless of age. Are there grandparents that live close by or friends that spend a lot of time at your house? Include them. Make it clear that everyone is expected to participate and that this isn’t a punishment or list of rules, but a guide to helping us help others.
- Homework Assignment. Before you come together as a group, have everyone do a little soul-searching of their own. Ask everyone to consider:
- What special talents do I have?
- What kinds of problems does our community face?
- What do people like about me?
- How would l like our family to help others?
- Call a Family Meeting. Corral the troops and prepare for discussion. Review everyone’s ‘homework.’ This will get the creative juices flowing. Then consider the following as a group and don’t forget, there are no right or wrong answers in brainstorming.
- What issues does our community face/what opportunities for helping are available?
- What do we care about and why? Is there an organization in particular that we would like to get involved with?
- How can we make a difference as a group? What do we have to offer?
- How often can we help?
- Create your Mission. Make this a commitment and outline who you’re going to help, how and the frequency. Do a search and see if there are events that you can put on the calendar that support your mission of helping.
- Revisit. Every six months or so, revisit your Family Mission as a group. Discuss where you’ve had success and how you might need to revise your plans.
By defining your intentions as a group, you’re more likely to meet your goals. And, everyone will be excited about the work you’re doing together to help others in your community. Let us know how it goes!