Five New Year's Resolutions for Families

For a twist on the traditional New Year's resolution, why not come up this January with a "family resolution" for the New Year? Having a common goal and creating change together can be fun and bring a family closer. Here are five ideas to get your thinking started.

New Year's Resolution #1 - Improve Family Harmony and Respect.

Common courtesy and respect seems to be a thing of the past. While it's only normal for families to have disputes, there's no excuse not to be respectful of each other's feelings and possessions. According to Healthychildren.org, "If your family never has arguments, it probably means that issues are being avoided. To become productive adults, children need to be able to voice their opinions - even if they disagree with yours - and feel they are being taken seriously."

In an effort to foster family harmony, you might create a family 'rulebook' consisting of ideas contributed from each family member. Teens may want to add that no one enters their rooms without permission. Younger children may ask older siblings not to make fun of them. Parents may want to incorporate that children talk about issues rather than yelling. Dad may ask for the kids to fall silent when he gives a certain signal while he is on the phone regarding business. Mom may ask for every member of the family to ask permission before bringing friends over.

As parents, we need to remember that kids learn from example, therefore following the 'rules' is as important for the parents as the kids. No pulling rank!

Family New Year's Resolution # 2 - Plan and Eat More Dinners Together.

There's no disputing that family dinners can be hard to arrange with so many scheduling conflicts. Dad or Mom may be working a second shift. The kids may have gymnastics practice or piano lessons. But, Nancy Gibbs' tells us in her article, "The Magic of the Family Meal" on Time.com, that family meals matter. Gibbs writes, "Studies show that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders and consider suicide, and the more likely they are to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn big words and know which fork to use."

If the whole family participates in meal planning and actually sits down together to enjoy the fruits of their labor, they are more likely to appreciate everyone's contribution. Additionally, how can your kids be expected not to eat like cavemen and show manners at a restaurant if they aren't able to practice at home?

Resolve to share the responsibility of creating a shopping list by posting it on the refridgerator, ready for everyone's additions. Every family member could participate periodically in shopping from the list . Meal prep duties can be assigned according to the day of the week and individual schedules, and KP duty shared by all. Using up leftovers before they spoil can become a shared challenge. Regardless of your schedules, you can come up with a fair plan that will involve the entire family, and bring them together at the table at least a few times a week.

Family New Year's Resolution #3 - Eat Healthier!

While we are on the subject of eating, now is the time to resolve to eat healthier. Eating healthier is a close cousin to the popular New Year's resolution of losing weight, but should last beyond the moment the scale hits that goal number.

Each family member could research and submit one way the family could improve on their eating habits. Changes might include reducing the risk of cancer by eliminating drinking water from plastic bottles made with BPA, replacing white rice with brown rice, switching to low fat dressings on salads, or simply eating more fresh vegetables. Each suggestion should include why this change is important for the family's overall health and be accepted by everyone. Eliminate any sugestion that unfairly targets one particular family member's dietary shortcomings.

Family New Year's Resolution # 4 - Save Money.

There's not a lot of extra cash lying around these days. With everyone tightening their belts, this is a good year for families to jointly resolve to start saving money.

Saving money for your family might start with reducing your utility bill or grocery spending. Each family member can come up with one idea to save money and run herd on it during the year. The amount saved could be tracked each month and deposited into a family savings account, or simply posted on the fridge. Refrain from promising to splurge on a Disneyland trip with the savings, but instead, teach the kids to embrace the philosophy of reducing spending for the sake of saving money. To reward their efforts, you could open each child a savings account or buy them a certificate of stock with a share of the savings. With time, they'll adopt the concept of saving money as they see it grow.

Family Resolution #5 - Give More to Others.

In general, Americans have become a selfish society; we focus too much on material possessions and ourselves, and often forget about being a good citizen of the world around us. Whatever our financial situation, there are people more needy. There are many ways to help others: mow the lawn for a disabled neighbor, donate money to adopt a child in a third-world country, volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, donate children's clothing and toys to a shelter or children's hospital, or visit an eldercare facility regularly.

There is something magical that happens when we give to someone who needs and appreciates our help - we feel good! Additionally, a popular belief is that whatever we give of our talents, time and money, we receive back exponentially. But the basis of this philosophy is that we give without the expectation of receiving back. So, as a family, be as generous as your situation allows, and agree to give for the pure joy of giving.

Just a bit of brain-storming and consensus-taking this January might uncover amazing ideas from your family members for great New Year's resolutions. And who knows, making a New Year's resolution as a family this year, might prove so valuable it becomes an annual tradition!

References:

HealthyChildren.org - "Family Arguments"

Time.com - "The Magic of the Family Meal"

Medhelp.org - "Plastic Bottle Cancer Risk - BPA"

The Huffington Post - "The Etiquette of Giving: We Get When We Give"