Creating a Legacy: Ethical Wills and Family Values
Dec. 1, 2025
A family mission statement articulates the shared values, purpose, and aspirations that define your family. It's a compass that guides decisions, shapes priorities, and creates unity across generations.
Why Create a Family Mission Statement:
Provides clarity about what your family stands for
Guides decision-making during challenging times
Creates a sense of shared identity and purpose
Helps children understand family expectations and values
Offers a framework for resolving conflicts
Connects generations through shared principles
Elements of a Strong Family Mission Statement:
Core Values What principles are non-negotiable in your family? Honesty, education, service, faith, creativity, perseverance? Identify the 3-5 values that truly define your family.
Purpose Why does your family exist beyond just being related? What positive impact do you want to have on each other, your community, and the world?
Commitments What do family members commit to doing for each other? Supporting education? Gathering regularly? Helping in times of need? Maintaining certain traditions?
Vision What kind of family do you aspire to be? What do you hope future generations will say about your family legacy?
How to Create a Family Mission Statement:
Involve Everyone This shouldn't be a top-down declaration. Involve your spouse, children (even young ones can contribute ideas), and potentially extended family in the process.
Share Stories Discuss family stories that illustrate your values. What moments are you most proud of as a family? When have you seen family members embody the values you care about?
Identify Common Themes What values keep coming up? What do family members consistently say matters most?
Draft and Refine Write a first draft, then refine it together. It should be concise enough to remember but comprehensive enough to be meaningful.
Make It Visible Once finalized, display it in your home. Refer to it during family meetings or when making important decisions.
Live It A mission statement only matters if you actually use it to guide decisions and actions. Reference it regularly and hold each other accountable to it.
Example Family Mission Statements:
"The Johnson family is committed to learning, growing, and supporting each other through all of life's seasons. We value education, honest communication, and service to others. We gather regularly, celebrate our heritage, and work to leave every person and place better than we found them."
"We are the Martinez family. We choose kindness over judgment, courage over comfort, and gratitude over complaint. We support each other's dreams, forgive each other's mistakes, and show up for each other no matter what. We honor our ancestors by living with integrity and building a legacy of love and resilience."
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PARENTING TIP:
"The greatest gift you can give your children isn't just your love today—it's the security of knowing they'll be cared for tomorrow."