Family meetings are much like corporate board meetings. The purpose of board meetings is to review performance, consider policy issues, address major problems, and perform the legal business of the board. Are these tasks not like the responsibilities of parents?

The family is the nucleus of society, and the household serves as the corporation with parents as the Chief Executive Office and President of the Board. The children represent their individual departments.

✔ The household is the family business responsible for the total budget and projected vision of the family.

✔ The departments within the household are represented by each person within the family.

Parents will have the majority, if not all the household income. Their budget is the core of the household and should identify all expenses including that of each child's education also known as training. Budget should also include emergency supplies, travel, investment, retirement, health and life insurance. Parents budget should also identify discretionary income.

Children’s income will be in the form of grants, in addition to income they may produce. They should also have a budget that outline expenses (paid for by parental grant) for clothes, toys, school supplies, birthday parties, Christmas, medical, insurance, travel, future training also known as college, trades schools, educational camps, retreat, etc. This awareness will help children understand the importance of a budget, see the cost associated their activities, and understand the business world as well as creating a plan of action for their lives.

Additionally, conflicts and misunderstandings can be identified and resolved.

✔ Emergency Plan

Every household should have emergency funds for the unexpected. Such as car repairs, child illness or injury, replacing broken household item, etc.

Some of the supplies needed for disasters preparation are water, first aide kits, non perishable food, camping stove, camping supplies, go bag, and generator are some of the things to consider when creating your emergency plan.

Families should discuss and practice evacuation plans if you must leave or unable to return home. Families should have meeting places, designated contact people out of the area for messages. Designated contacts should be aware of evacuation plans and meeting locations.

✔ Family Vision – Future Goals (Education, Health, Wealth, Retirement)

Parent should discuss with children the importance of setting and achieving future goals.

Each child should be put on the path to specified goals. Starting with strong foundation in reading, writing and math. As they age the books and activities should propel them toward obtaining goals. However, children are encouraged to socialize and engage with other children in childhood activities and play.

Plans, products and services should be implemented to fund goals for higher education, business development and investments as needed.

Parents should discuss retirement, succession, and estate planning with children. Children should know about medical directive, power of attorney, wills, assets, resources, guardians, beneficiaries, when parents transition. This must be an open and honest conversation, so children and parents are comfortable discussion this topic so changes can easily be made as everyone evolves.

This will promote opportunities for information to be shared openly during family meetings as well as build children’s communication skills and self-esteem.

✔ Regular family meetings, builds cohesiveness and family closeness because children are more likely to identify with the family. By representing their department children see themselves as participants in family decision making and problem-solving process. Children also take on the perspective of the family, viewing economics through a budget and understand the difference between necessities and desires as well as consumers and producers. We suggest weekly meeting initially until everyone has an understanding of the responsibilities, goals and can properly represent their department.

✔ Lastly, you can include your personal religious or spiritual belief in your family meetings. Affirming and building faith and trust in The Most High can be essential in the developing confidence and independent mentality as everyone matures.

SUCCESS MUST BE DELIBERATIVE!