The Power of the Weekly Meeting

This is so extremely basic and most don't do it. The family meeting between husband and wife. If it is something that will involve the children and you can put it at a child's level, then by all means include the children after you have had the adult portion of your conversation.

There are a couple of rules for this meeting.
1.) Set it for a specific time and place. It should be the around the same time every week or month. If there seems to be a lot of issues, you can schedule them more frequently. Although, I recommend at least once a month.

2.) Determine what will be discussed ahead of time. Know what you are going to discuss. Just as you prepare for a meeting at work, prepare for the meeting with your spouse.

3.) Have a plan of what you hope to accomplish. Decide what progress needs to happen in order for productivity to take place.

4.) Be open for discussion and compromise. This is the perfect time to communicate your true feelings and the pros and cons of the situation and what needs to be done.

5.) Make sure meeting time is meeting time and nothing else. Eliminate the possibility of distractions. Get somewhere quiet where your focus will be on the situation at hand.

6.) Keep them to no more than about 45 minutes. Anything longer and the productivity level will likely suffer. Your attention span will begin to waver. You will start to say things, just for the sake of bringing the meeting to a end. If necessary, set another meeting to finish. You will get more out of three 45 minutes than one long meeting.

7.) First and foremost, begin each meeting with prayer. Bring the trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in and allow them to guide, direct, and lead your discussion. Let thy will be your will.