An Out-of-the-Ordinary Family Meeting

by

Patti Dickinson

We have a family meeting every Sunday.  It's one of the rare times that we are all home together.  No one heading over to the Journalism room, or dashing out the door for an extra credit talk at Union Station that will turn the whole schedule on its side for three lousy points that will be averaged in, not added on.  (There's a big difference.)  

First we talked about Lent.  How we were going to manage getting ashes on Wednesday with everyone's school schedule.  Decided on 6:30 a.m. at St. Ann's.  No one groaned.  They know better.  

Then we talked about the economy.  Don't be too impressed here at the topics for this particular family meeting.  Most of them are mundane and predictable. Previous topics would include:  who didn't flush, clean out the cat box, pick up their towel from the bathroom floor, who hasn't picked up their laundry in two weeks from the laundry room (and this is a five second inconvenience, because the MOM is the one who washes, dries and folds!!).  Who leaves the garage door open when they go somewhere (that would be the sole kid-driver in the house!).  

So, we talked about ways to save money around the house.  Turning lights off, not taking forty-five minute showers (I keep telling the kids that when I am usually the last person taking a shower at the end of the day,  I am not smiling when the ice cold water hits me and I am gasping to get enough oxygen), not pouring a full glass of milk and drinking half and tossing the rest in the sink.  Lots of good ideas.  (Sorry to report that when I came out into the kitchen this morning, the playroom lights were all on....).  

So I went to the grocery store this morning.  Usually this is a chaotic careen down the aisles and home.  This time I was conscious of every single thing I put in the cart.  Did we need this? Was there a better snack choice for the kids as they eat their way through the pantry at the end of the school day?  I saved some money.  Put some things back and thought, "We don't really need this."  Want, yes.  Need, no.  I think that this is going to be a steep learning curve, as we raise our awareness.  Nothing but good can come from this.

Next week, we'll get back to who's going to bring the trash barrels/recycling bin back from the end of the driveway sometime before the next pickup!