This year once again, I took the lead to guide my kids through some goal setting of their own. I had talked with them over the Christmas break about establishing the pattern of setting goals again. In the past, I have done this but stopped the last two years. No real reason just dropped it, but I kept doing my yearly goals and realized I stopped leading them.
This year (2020), I was determined to help teach them again about goal setting and thinking about what do they want out of life. So I took it slow and did not force them. I shared hey I am working on some new goals for the year ahead, what about you.
I asked questions like
What would be something you want to see happen in your life?
What would make it a good year for you?
Where is an area you could grow in your life?
Now it helped because we had done this when they were younger. We would take the goals and put them up on the wall for the year. Then as they reached the goal, we would check it off and celebrate. I remember the one year one of my girls wanted to go to WonderLand (that is an amusement park in the area). The celebration was going.
I think because we had done this in the past, it made it easier to pick back up. For about two weeks, I would bring it up at the supper table, “how are your goals coming? What are you thinking about setting?”
I asked does anyone need help in setting and figuring out your goals. My one daughter asked for help, so I sat down with her to figure them out.
We had a date in which everyone in the family would share their goals. Now I did not share all my work goals, but some of my habit goals and let them know there were others for work.
The night came. We had gone to a movie that afternoon together (a tradition over the Christmas break), then picked up pizza for home after. As we sat around the table, I invited everyone to share.
We talked about what would need to happen to reach those goals and how Mom and Dad could help them. Those goals will now go up on the wall so that they can see them every day.
I wish in my life I could have learned the power of goals and setting direction earlier. It is a skill we can pass to our kids. It can help them gain small wins, and I promise you as a parent, it is a great moment when you can watch your child check off reaching one of those goals.
Give it a try to ask your kids, what would make a good year for them? What are the things they want to do over the year?
Helping them build good habits and gain small wins will build confidence in themselves.