I think in life sometimes we just need to get down to the nitty gritty of parenting and childhood development. It makes life so much simpler to know the things that are most important to your family, because then you can see what makes sense to do within your days, weeks and months. Does your use of time match up with what you really think is important?
For example, if simplicity is important to you, but you are running your children somewhere every day, does that reflect your priorities?
If you think religion is important, or spiritual inner development is important to you, but you don’t spend any time in activities that reflect that, then does that reflect your priorities?
Too often we start out the school year very strong, and things sort of peter out by the end of the school year. What a perfect time of year this is to look and evaluate where your family is, and where you would like to be.
We enjoy having a Family Mission Statement. This is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it can be helpful in looking at priorities, and making sure everyone is on the same page. Here is a link to a back post on this: https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/05/08/creating-a-family-mission-statement/ Our Family Mission Statement involves kindness, integrity, positive attitude, patience, and adventure. Yours will be different, but I think it is worthy project to undertake.
I would love to hear what you are revitalizing in your family life this time of year!
Much love,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 
Hi Carrie,
I have followed your blog for a few years now and always recommend it, so thank you! Your post on a Family Mission Statement inspired me back then, but is only recently that I have managed to get it together in a format that my family can understand and be meaningful – as a poem. My children are 7 and 9 so sometimes concepts of morals and ethics are a bit hard for them to grasp. I thought you might like to read it and share with your other followers:
Family Manifesto – Our happy home
Our little home holds such great things,
Like invisible wind beneath our wings;
It starts deep down within Mother Earth
With roots of trust to build our hearth.
The hearth is kindness that warms us all
Within bricks of love that build the wall.
The floorboards are rods of equality,
The windows open our honesty,
The doors our speaking and listening,
The beds are hugs that make hearts sing.
The food on the table for gratitude,
The rising chimney good attitude,
The carpets allow respect for each of us,
The chairs support our helpfulness.
The garden our playground for endless fun,
Each flower offers happiness for everyone,
The pathway our trail of memories
Towards the gate of infinite possibilities.
Karen,
That is SO beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing!
Blessings to you and your sweet family,
Carrie