Family Meetings

Did you ever hear of having family meetings weekly with all the members
 in your household?  It goes something like this... You gather together once
 a week, perhaps on Sunday night or on a night that you know most of your
 family is home.  Gather around the family room or table and begin the
 discussion and conversation around what new events and activities will be
 taken place during the upcoming week.  This can also be a good time to take
 out the family calendar or bulletin board and write down the activities and
post them on the date/calendar.  If you need to color code each child activities
you can do that.  This way each family member knows what the other is doing.
  It's a great reminder and it's fun to see posted in the kitchen.  Also at the
 family meeting you can discuss menus for that weeks dinner, preference
 and needs.  It's a great time to ask for 10 different options on the dinner
 menu and start making a list of well liked foods.  I had a schedule going
 where we planned out our weekly menu and everyone had input and there
 were no surprises and disapproved meals.  Dinner time was well planned and
everyone ate well. I made sure to have a variety so there would be choices
 within the planned meal. For example, I would make soup, salad, garlic bread,
 and pasta on Monday nights. If someone didn't like pasta, they could rely
 on soup and salad, Of course someone was bound to be happy with soup
and pasta and skipped the bread and salad.  The leftovers were my lunch
for the next day. The point of the family members is to have every ones
 input, a chance to be heard and make some joint decisions.  This brings
 great unity, and self-esteem to the young ones. They get to use their voice,
be recognized and be involved in family planning. It's a win-win situation.
Give it a try and let me know what you think.