Family Mission Statement

Consider writing a motto or mission statement that addresses your core family value, whether it be peacefully resolving conflict, being kind and loyal or working hard.

Talk about your family. What things are most important to your family? What are the strengths of your family? What words or phrases best describe your family?

Write down everything. You can always go back and narrow the list later. The first session is about brainstorming.

Allow everyone to think about it for a while before reconvening to agree on a list.

Stick to ten major ideas. Your final list can have more or less, but ten is a workable number to aim for without being overwhelming.

Display your list. Hang your values list up somewhere where it will be seen every day.

Refer to the list when things happen. Use your family's list of values as a teaching tool.

Rewrite as necessary. The list may grow and evolve over time, just as your family changes.