How to create the family life you want

For clients, setting goals and discussing the year ahead happens during a meeting. For Brendan Clune Walsh, a five-year MDRT member from Birmingham, Michigan, it happens during a night out with his wife.

At dinner, the parents of three review their vision from the past year and craft theirs for the year to come. “It’s pretty remarkable to look at the things we said were our vision for the year and see how much we accomplished,” Walsh said. “It’s a really fun thing to do. It’s an extra date night for us. We get to celebrate some of our victories, talk about some things we might not have done and discuss what we see ahead in the next year.”

They discuss where they want to be professionally and financially, as well as what they’d like to do with their family, where they want to be health-wise, goals for home renovation, kids’ activities and more. This is not something that is discussed and then forgotten about until a year later, though. “We make a list and then I wordsmith it into a one-page document that gets put up behind the mirror in our bathroom, so we can see it when we brush our teeth,” Walsh said.

Boundaries at work means more time at home

The night is part of Walsh’s efforts to achieve work-life balance. That includes a rule not to do any work at night or on the weekends. Instead, that time is reserved for family and to assist his wife, who decided to stay home with the kids (all under 9) when the family moved from Washington, D.C. to Michigan.

“I did the math of the time I have with the children before they turn 18, and it’s shockingly low. It’s something like four or five actual years with them when you add it up. That doesn’t include high school when they’re super busy and don’t want to hang out with me anymore,” Walsh said. “I’d like to think they’ll want to, but I can’t assume.”

For more Whole Person ideas

•        “Q&A: Ross Hultgren, CFP, DFP” (pdf)
•        “Supporting Covenant House” (pdf)
•        “Whole Person balance quiz” (pdf)

Written by Matt Pais, MDRT Content Specialist