Family Meeting

A few years ago we were having some discipline issues with our kids.  It seemed as if the entire family was off-course and heading in a bad direction.  Having exhausted all of the options in our arsenol as parents, I snapped and said, "Enough of this.  I'm calling a family meeting."  Over the course of the next 90 minutes, everyone got a chance to vent their concerns and have their feelings heard.  It was as if a light went on for the entire family.  To this day, in our house, a family meeting can be called by anyone and everyone is given a chance to be heard.  I learned a valuable lesson that day about communication as parents.  It is not enough to simply to talk to your kids.  There are times when you need to really listen to what is being said.