Create Your Family Plan
Now that you are working on your family goals, you can envision the next step: Making a formal plan. Like a business plan, a family plan makes you think about all the things you really do want for your family. And then helps you realize what it will take to accomplish your goals.
Family plans can be concise or lengthy in detail. But what is most important is you write your goals down. It is also fun to create your “management summary,” as these will be memorable statements one day.
Here is an example of a family plan to get you thinking about yours. Just remember what makes your family unique and incorporate that into the plan.
HOT TIPS
- Once you have your Family Plan done, you can scrapbook it and make it look pretty. You can hang it on the wall as a reminder or put it somewhere where you will not forget about it (like on the frig).
- You can include family photos into your plan too!
- One ceoMom made her Family Plan resemble a family crest and wrote it with royalty terms like “thee” and “thou.” Her daughters were “Princesses” and her sons “Princes.” Of course her husband was the “King” and this ceoMom was the “Queen.” She displayed it on her wall and it is always a conversation piece. Get creative!
Warren Family Plan
Executive Summary
The Warren Family was established on February 14, 1999 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Tom is the dad and Jennifer is the mom. They have two children and one on the way. Emma is five years old and Caroline is age three. Baby number three is due in August. They now live in Portland, Oregon.
Unique Factor
We love to go on bike rides as a family. Our children our young now, but we hope one day to ride in a local 100 mile race as a family. We also enjoy watching the Tour de France every summer and we make it a family event. We appreciate art and our daughters absolutely love to color, paint and create. We cherish the ocean, playing in the sand and whale watching. We love different cultures and have exposed our daughters to many cultures and cuisine. Consequently, our girls eat all sorts of food and enjoy festivities from around the world.
Objective
To raise intelligent, confident and independent children who will attend college, be successful in their chosen endeavors and remain strong and connected as a family.
Mission Statement/Family Motto
“Warren's Give it Their All.” We believe in giving it our all and striving for our personal best. We do not compare ourselves to others, but rather encourage one another. We believe we can accomplish our dreams with hard work and determination.
Goals 2008-2020
Family Vacations:
- Weekend Trips: Oregon coast
- Summer 2009: Disneyland
- Summer 2011: Discover Oregon
- Summer 2013: Yellowstone National Park
- Summer 2015: Washington DC
- Summer 2017: Germany to visit family
Health:
- Incorporate more organic foods
- Make bread from scratch
- Try to remove processed foods from diet
- Encourage exercise – family bike rides
- Enter a local bike ride/race for a good cause
Education:
- Encourage and monitor school work
- Supplement teaching to broaden studies
- Lots of outings to see, observe and learn in the real world
Family:
- Family responsibilities/chores
- Scheduled times for family activities
- Dinner together every night as possible
Finances:
- Continue to save for college in college funds
- Teach children to work and save for college
- Teach children to give back
- Save money in advance for vacations
- Buy an ocean front property within five years
Keys to Success
- Education is of the utmost importance
- Use positive reinforcement and build the children's self-confidence
- Involve the children in various activities, sports, etc. to find their niche
- Expose our children to many lands, people, food and cultures
- Expand their mind with the arts, music, orchestra, concerts, ballet
- Teach proper etiquette, but also how to have fun
- Educate children on money, saving, investing
- Teach humility by involving children in helping others
- Provide healthy food and nutrition education
- Spend time together as just a family doing fun activities
Management Summary
Tom: Tom loves to work and ride his bike when he's not wrestling or playing with the girls. One minute he will be on his computer working and the next he'll turn into a scary monster chasing the girls screaming in excitement. His personal goals are to ride, ride, ride his bike, visit the east coast again and of course work like a maniac.
Jennifer: Jennifer is a ceoMom who takes her job seriously. She loves running her home and making it to the gym every once in a while. When she's not crazy busy with the girls, you can find her on the telephone, checking her email or doing a favor for a friend. Her personal goals include getting comfortable on a bike for long periods of time, cooking like a master chef and of course giving birth to baby number three.
Emma: At age five, Emma is in Kindergarten and reading up a storm. She loves books, playing on the computer, gymnastics and playing “pirates” at the park. She was Sleeping Beauty for Halloween (again) and loves anything pink. She loves her sister and they are the best of friends.
Caroline: At age three, Caroline wants to do everything Emma does and she can do just about anything she wants to do! Very determined, she is a spit fire and a joy to be around. She loves being on “daddy's shoulders” and finally decided she liked green beans after all.
