My family is growing and changing in lots of ways. This is a common transition as your children become young adults. As I think about this today, I am thinking about how to build optimal teaming amongst and between my family as we all age and life changes.
A warm welcoming home
The more that I can make my home a place that my children and their loved ones enjoy visiting, the better. I'm not sure whether I'll remain in the home where I live now or move to another place, but wherever I am, I want my space to be inviting. How can I do that? For me, that means I have a place that's simple, not cluttered, and a place that invites my children and their loved ones to be comfortable and engaged in a large number of activities from the quiet engagement of reading and relaxing to more energized activities such as hiking, game playing, and family parties.
Good food
When my family visits, I want to have lots of fresh, delicious, nutritious foods available for them. Creating a kitchen atmosphere that makes cooking delicious foods easy helps to make this happen.
Respect for everyone's life choices and paths
We're all on different paths in life, and I want to respect my children's choices while also recognizing that each child will make somewhat different choices about who they live with, what they do, and where they live. I want to be a curious mom, one who takes an interest in my children's choices, and one who supports their lifeways as needed and desired.
Family fun and celebration
I want our time together to include celebrations and fun. Yearly, I want to plan a number of gatherings that bring us together to celebrate holidays and engage in mutually enjoyable adventures and exploration. The key to planning these events is to plan for each person's comfort and interests--there should be something for everyone. I also want to be respectful of the many other families my children love and live with--I want to respect that.
Building my own life too
No adult child wants their mom or dad to rely solely on their children. This is a chapter of life when we're building our own lives too with new adventures and endeavors. That makes us happier, healthier, and more interesting and welcoming too. As the children branch out, we have time to solidify a good life for ourselves too--a life that includes our interests, contribution, and needed, desired lifeways.
Regular family letters
About once a week, I send a letter to my closest family members that includes upcoming dates, current questions, and recent news. I send the letter via email so people can read when and if they want. This is one way to create a family team by keeping everyone in the loop of family news and events.