I have found that one of the problems that plagues the American family (mine not excluded) is that we are pulled in too many directions. On any given day, families I know are running from here to there trying to keep up with the schedule. I know it has been that way for us over the years. Sometimes life is crazy and UNMANAGEABLE. My family teases me because I am always asking "what's the plan". I know that if we don't have a plan for the day, week, month, then something is going to get overlooked.
Most familes are dissatisfied with the pace and want to bring sanity to their lives. A nice easy formula would be great, wouldn't it? Well, I obviously don't have one. BUT, I have just finished reading a book that I think has some good ideas about trying to get a handle on the chaos.
It's called, The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Patrick Lencioni. Lencioni typically writes business books and is the well known author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. He has taken some of his business principles and applied them to the family in his new book. While I don't think it's the perfect solution to all of your family problems, I do think that applying these principles can help families to be proactive and not reactive in dealing with the stress of family life today.
Anyway, it's a quick read. It's written as a fable, using realistic characters and plotlines. I'll even loan you my copy. Let me know what you think.
