On the first Sunday of the month (Fast Sunday in our Church), each child privately sits down for an interview with Dear Old Dad.
Dad and child usually read a scripture, talk about things they are working on, feelings they have, expectations we have for them, goals, and anything they want to talk to their Dad about (or we want to talk to them about). I would love to attend one day (I think), but for now it takes a full-time warden to keep the other darlings out during the interview.
Lately we have been working on the kid's 'life plan'. Sounds ridiculous for kids so young, but I it's been so funny to talk about. They each made a little flow chart and discussed the things in life they want to achieve...school, baptism, priesthood, temple endowment, mission, career, marriage, schooling, family, hobbies....
Anyway, this week the kids made their 2010 goals to go along with their life plan.
Who knows if any of it will come to pass. Who knows if it will do any good. But our hope is that the kids will want to live up to their goals. (And deep down I hope that during those dreaded teenage years, this interview system will keep the communication from totally evaporating--if that's possible.)
Dad used to have interviews with us, too, though not each Fast Sunday, but many of those feelings have had a long lasting impact on me. I appreciated time alone with him, his interest in my life, and valued the expectations he made clear for me.
Do you have any good Sunday traditions that work for your family? Please share....
4 comments:
We are adopting your idea for 2010. I hope it works, but if my teenagers end up needing psycho therapy, I'll send you the bill. Hee hee. I haven't talked to you in forever. I hope Sunny's ear is feeling better. Today is another busy day. We are going to see the musical White Christmas tonight and tomorrow a jazz and percussion Christmas concert. Then I teach the next two nights, two kids performances for the weekend and that about wraps up the week if you include homeschooling, taking care of my family, and sleeping. And running-just did 5 and 1/2 this morning. I know you're going to laugh at me and I deserve it. You know I'm going to crash and burn come Jan. Hope we can squeeze in a phonecall. Maybe lunchtime today? E
Heidi, I love the life plan.
We've done 5 year plans, but we'll have to step it up and attempt an entire life plan.
This is a really nice tradition, and I have a funny story about Holly.
One Sunday Mike sat down with each of the kids for their interview. He held the interviews in our room, strictly for peace.
I always remember Dad doing ours in the front room or out on the patio, but they always seemed solemn and serious. This is exactly how Holly felt when Mike called her back to our room.
She sat down and when he asked the first question, which I think was is there anything in your life you'd like to discuss or should be doing, she burst into tears and told him she should be helping her mother more!
Isn't that hilarious? But, I know exactly how she felt, especially in a big family, when suddenly you're being singled out.
I'm glad you shared this tradition, and yesterday morning while I was busy cooking and getting everything ready before church I kept thinking that I wish Mike would read the scriptures with the kids or do an activity with them in the morning. Church doesn't start until 1:00 so that's when he'll be conducting their interviews and life plans.
Thanks for sharing, Heidi.
I wish I lived closer to everyone so we could spend Sundays together!
I love the life plan idea. That's a crack up. We haven't even discussed Annabelle's 5 year plan. I feel like such a slacker.
My favorite part of the interviews at our house is hearing about what the kids will tell Paul what they need. Paul will say, "Do you need anything?" And the kids will say something like, "Yes, I need you to get that toy down for me." Or Annabelle will say,"Yes can you help me do this maze?" Wouldn't it be nice if that were all the help you really needed?
Cute idea. Sundays are spent running around fulfilling church responsibilities and meetings for half the day and being super lazy the other half of the day. I usually take a nap on Sundays and Seth does laundry or plays with the monkeys since he doesn't get to do that as much during the week. Or sometimes he just watches football while the kids play. I didn't want you to think he was completely perfect, just almost. Then I get up and he makes us crepes for dinner. Sundays are my favorite!
I would like to incorporate a little more tradition and family time though. It is just so nice to have a day (or half day) where I can be lazy.
Oh and Catherine, don't feel guilty about the 5 year plan, my kids don't have a 5 minute plan.
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