Why You Need a Family Motto

Having family sayings can instill values and life lessons into our kids. It can also keep our home calm and peaceful. Having a few phrases that repeat in almost any situation can keep your well-oiled home running smoothly, no matter what chaos upsets your mojo. Here is how and why you need a positive family motto.

Have a Positive Family Motto

Growing up, we all have a few phrases we can remember our parents saying over and over. Maybe they were complete and total cliches, like “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”. Or they could be simple sayings to remember how to accomplish a task. I.e. “Righty tighty, loosy goosy.”

Unfortunately, I come from a very rough background. I also have a chronically depressed father who raised us alone after our mother died. Most of the sayings he repeated were not the most inspiring, to say the least.

My dad’s motto for life is honestly, “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.”

Not the most positive and encouraging thing to instill in your kids there Dad.

So when you are making a family motto, make sure it’s positive and inspiring. You are wanting a key phrase that motivates your kids to be able to repeat it in stressful situations. Keeping them motivated in adversity can be one of the most important life lessons that you can give them.

Choosing the Right Things to Say

Think about the things you say and your family overhears on repeat. I know a lot people with kids who say things like, “keep your hands to yourself”, or “don’t touch that” all day long. While discipline is important and you have to keep your kids safe, make sure those things aren’t all they hear.

According to my daughter, my go to phrase is, “It is what it is.” I’m not sure exactly how positive that seems from the outside looking in. But let me tell you, to me it is.

My motto means that no matter what life throws at you, we have to remember that we only have control on how we act. We only have control over our own space in life. You have to let others and life in general do what it does. I don’t life being judged for my life choices, and I refuse to judge others. It doesn’t mean that I don’t get frustrated. Choosing to only focus on how I react or don’t react is what matters the most to make the life that I want.

How to Choose Your Motto

Think about what lessons you want to instill in your kids. Is it compassion? Gratitude? Strength? Any value that is important to you to teach them is perfect. Don’t worry about what others may be teaching their kids. Really, who cares what so-and-so does? Your family in within your four walls. What you decide is what is most important.

Whatever motto you choose, make sure that it is framed in a positive light. For example, if you are looking to instill strength and self-reliance, it may seem as if, “you can do better than that” would work. And maybe it would. But it comes across negative and honestly a tad judgemental.

A better way to phrase a family motto for strength would be, “It can only break you if you let it.” Or maybe, “You are stronger than you know.”

Keeping a positive spin on your words and motto can make so much difference to how others learn from it.

No One is Listening!

As you are thinking about your family motto, remember your family does listen to you. Maybe you don’t see it or feel it, but they are. Just like I never realized my daughter heard me say, “it is what it is” so often.

Even on days when you feel like you’ve had to ask your family over a thousand times, “are you listening to me?” They are. Trust me.

As you were growing up, I’m sure that you had times when you tuned out your parents. Or so you and they thought. But their phrases and saying still come to mind in your every day life today, don’t they? The same will happen over time with your children.

And yes, they hear the negative too. Hence why I think having a family motto is more important than anyone realizes. It is a constant that can override that negative noise that happens. Don’t beat yourself up about it. We all are our own worst critics. The key is to make sure that you also make a conscious effort to repeat your positive family motto daily.

Positive Family Mottos Do Work

Some people don’t understand that positive family mottos are no different than the words of wisdom we remember hearing in our own upbringing. The words we hear repeatedly are the words that shape who we are. Make sure that your kids are hearing what you want them to.

Scroll through Pinterest based on the values that you want to instill in your kids. Find what speaks to you.

Below is my Positive Family Mottos Pinterest Board, which I try to add words of wisdom to daily. (By the way, sometimes I use these same positive family motto quotes as journaling prompts.)

Using Your Family Motto

Make sure that you practice what you preach. Your words mean nothing is your kids see conflicting behavior. Keeping a positive attitude with your positive family motto is key. If you want them to grow up and be kind or grateful, then you need to stop screaming at the lady who cut you off in traffic. If you are trying to teach your kids to be strong, don’t grumble or give up yourself.

Make sure you also look for real world examples to reinforce the positive family motto. If you see or hear something that is in line with the motto, point it out. If you see something that contradicts it, open a line of discussion to talk about why it went against your family motto.

It’s a combination of practicing what we preach, and preaching what we practice. It goes hand in hand.

Now, go find your positive family motto and get it going. Maybe even use my method of DIY Framed Canvas Art to put your positive family motto in a place of prominence. You’ll thank yourself for it.

Please follow and like us: