DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Raising 4 kids can be hectic. Our household couldn’t function without our weekly family meetings.

August 3, 2025
in News
Raising 4 kids can be hectic. Our household couldn’t function without our weekly family meetings.
493
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A stainless fridge in a kitchen  is covered with family planning items including a shopping list and calendars.
TK

CatLane/Getty Images

A few months ago, I was standing in the kitchen talking to one of my kids. Within 90 seconds, my other three kids and husband meandered in and started asking me more questions.

All at once, I had five voices hurling questions and requests at me. One wanted a ride to an extracurricular activity. Another asked when their dentist appointment was. Someone else was hungry.

I’d had enough.

We were all fed up with communication issues, last-minute requests and reminders, and overall disorganization. That’s when it dawned on me that we needed to have a sit-down, weekly family meeting.

For some, I’m sure this sounds too formal and constricting. However, before our weekly family meetings, we were always scrambling and rushing to get someone where they needed to be with everything they needed, like sports gear or snacks. Now, those stresses don’t exist. It has been a life-altering change for us.

These days, we meet every Saturday for about an hour (or as long as it takes) to discuss schedules, plans, requests, chores, and anything else that needs addressing. Here’s what we prioritize at our meetings.

Syncing schedules is our main goal

The No. 1 reason we started having family meetings was to discuss our plans for the coming week. Each family member has an electronic or paper planner that they bring to the meeting.

When we gather, each family member takes time to share what they have on tap for the upcoming week. This includes appointments, sports practices, games, meetings, and any social events that occur outside of school or working hours.

Each person is responsible for recording what’s shared to their own planner to prevent any “I didn’t know that was happening today!” moments. My husband and I are also able to determine right then and there who’s-taking-whom-where-and-when, as everyone presents their activities.

This is also a time to make special requests

We have two teens, a preteen, and a fourth kiddo who is almost a tween. When we have our family meeting, they each get a turn to share what they need for the upcoming week and ask permission for anything else they’d like to do, such as attend a social event, like a swimming party or movie night. When we negotiate rides, we also agree on pickup and drop-off times.

Sometimes they use this time to request that we grab a certain snack from the grocery store for them to share with friends, or if they need more of a particular school supply. We’re then able to immediately add that item, virtually, to our online shopping cart so we don’t forget about it.

The author and her husband with thier dour children.
Weekly family meetings have helped keep my family of six on track.

Courtesy of Rachel Garlinghouse.

This is when our kids get their allowance

Once a month, at our family meeting, we give the kids their allowance. We usually do this at our first meeting of the month, and it is up to them to make sure the money lasts the next few weeks.

This time also allows us to address any questions or requests they have at that moment, such as asking what they’re responsible for paying versus us.

They also might”pay up” for anything they owe another person, such as when a sibling loans them money or when someone might take on someone else’s chores in exchange for a few dollars.

We also have check-ins and make announcements

At our meeting, each person also gets time to share how they are doing, what they are looking forward to, and what they need help with.

For my kids, this often means talking about academics, such as any areas of struggle that may require some tutoring support. Each can also share any announcements they have that pertain to the group. I shared my new teaching job with my kids at our last meeting.

The meetings have taught my kids how to negotiate

Our meetings often operate as a “suggestion box” for our crew. For example, we recently brought home a new dog, and we were struggling to name him. We passed around a paper at this meeting, allowing each person to write down the top three dog names they wanted considered. (I am sad to report that we have yet to name the dog, but we are trying!)

This is also the time when the kids may bring up a struggle they’re having within the household, which often has to do with chores or rules. We are able to discuss these issues as a family and make adjustments as needed.

The post Raising 4 kids can be hectic. Our household couldn’t function without our weekly family meetings. appeared first on Business Insider.

Share197Tweet123Share
Tears As Autistic Boy, 6, Reunites With Family Dog Trained To Support Him
News

Tears As Autistic Boy, 6, Reunites With Family Dog Trained To Support Him

by Newsweek
August 9, 2025

A mom from Alabama captured the precious moment her son was finally reunited with his dog, following four months of ...

Read more
News

Jaxson Dart Gets Honest About Mindset Before NY Giants Debut

August 9, 2025
News

‘Arab Forces’ Running Gaza? Netanyahu’s Goal Leaves Many Questions.

August 9, 2025
News

Zelensky Rejects Ceding Land to Russia After Trump Suggests a Land Swap

August 9, 2025
News

Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Suggestion That Ukraine Should Give Up Territory to Russia in Peace Talks

August 9, 2025
Moscow warns of ‘provocations’ ahead of Putin-Trump meeting

Moscow warns of ‘provocations’ ahead of Putin-Trump meeting

August 9, 2025
Watching plastic surgery reels has me debating it for myself. I’ve started hyper-fixating on the changes in my own face.

Watching plastic surgery reels has me debating it for myself. I’ve started hyper-fixating on the changes in my own face.

August 9, 2025
Bathtub-Obsessed Dog Who Can’t Stop Splashing Wins Pet of the Week

Bathtub-Obsessed Dog Who Can’t Stop Splashing Wins Pet of the Week

August 9, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.