Episode 175: 3 Life & Family Changing Habits
For the Busy Mommas…
We all want life-changing habits...don't we?
I KNOW you got excited when you saw that title. Don't worry, we're gonna deliver on this one...
We’ll tell you what they are...how to start them...and how they’ll change your life and family.
Family dinner, evening cleaning as a family, and family prayer... we all KNOW these are good habits to have, but not always HOW to implement them.
Family Dinner (01:10)
You may not be able to have family dinner. It may have to be a family lunch or breakfast. The point here is less about what meal you’re eating and MORE about sharing a meal together.
Family meals are impactful in SO many ways. This gives a family the opportunity to connect every. single. day.
Sometimes, this means arguing and bickering, talking about how we should respond to food, or learning how to be polite or give compliments without being insulting. But more often, the family meal is where ideas and excitement are shared, kids feel loved, and bodies are nourished.
Family Clean-up (02:30)
At first, Britt’s kids had afternoon clean-up time individually, and it was hard to be consistent or get them to put in the effort. So, Brittany approached her husband and asked if the family could work together on the main space for 30-60 minutes after dinner. They decided to try it. This space (the downstairs) needed to be prioritized to serve the family each day.
The key here was everyone working together (yes, even moms & dads). This ALSO helped kids learn to clean effectively and efficiently (as they cleaned alongside them).
The other lesson here is that clean-up isn’t just a wife’s job. Or a kid’s job. It’s a whole family job. Family serves family.
One of the best ways to begin is to tie this new habit to an anchor, like dinner. No matter what’s going on or who’s home (or not home), clean-up happens right after dinner.
Now, the family turns the music up (LOUD) and cleans! Some nights, this happens until the job is “good enough,” and some nights, it can include “extras.”
Game-ify it! Make it fun! This can be foundational for children and help build hearts of service (in kids AND parents).
Family Prayer (08:10)
This is soul changing. It’s soul growing to pray as a family, and we need to do it more!
Bedtime is exhausting. It’s ok if you don’t want to do prayers with your kids at that time (yep, we said it!)
So, right after cleaning, Britt’s family sits down, snuggles up, and begins prayer... together.
A great way to begin is with an Examen. This is where you welcome the Holy Spirit into your presence and ask God to be with you (yes, he’s always with us, but this makes us more aware of it).
Then do 3 things…
Share a moment you’re grateful for. Kids can get wordy, so you may have to limit this to one or two things and encourage others to be brought to personal prayer. Lord, thank you so much for…
Share a moment when you felt loved. This was a beautiful opportunity for Britt to see how her children feel loved. It was also wonderful for sibling relationships, as they saw how the good things they do for one another are received (and, as a result, those things show up more).
Share something you’re sorrowful for. I’m sorry for…when I didn’t show up as the best version of myself. This one is still out loud, which can be challenging and vulnerable, but it is beautiful and deeply affects relationships in a positive way. One rule is that you don’t correct anyone who’s sharing something.
Finally, the family closes out by thanking God for making them a family. For each individual talent and person in the family and the gifts they bring. They then ask for grace and blessing for the day to come so they can show up as the best version of themselves. Then, Britt’s husband prays over the family (this is something that developed over time). The prayers of a father are SO efficacious.
That’s it! The three life-changing habits are dinner, clean-up, and prayers. These are simple, but there are waterfall effects, foundations being built, and the beauty that comes as a result... will show up again, and again, and again.
If you’re unsure where to start, get the Family Examen for Exhausted Moms! It will walk you through the tips and tricks and give you a step-by-step guide on how to start and what to say. It’s made specifically for big families!
