A family creed for a blended family
When two households become one, nobody's old rules quite fit. Writing a creed together gives everyone, especially the kids, an equal say in what the new family stands for. The values blended families choose most are respect and patience, because everyone is still learning each other, and kindness and forgiveness for the days that go sideways. Because every person answers privately and the results only show counts, nobody feels outvoted by the other half of the family. Game night is a common shared answer, and a good one to keep.
The creed
Here is what we believe, together:
We treat people the way we want to be treated.
We take a deep breath before we speak.
We are kind, especially when it's hard.
We make time for each other, every day.
We say sorry, and we mean it.
We play games together and cheer for whoever wins.
When things get hard, we talk it out.
One day, we hope people will say: they were kind and close-knit, and they loved each other.
This is our family, and this is our promise.
Motto options
- Reverentia et Patientia (“By respect and patience”)
- Honor all. Be patient.
- Festina Lente (“Make haste slowly”)
- Respect For All
- All in Good Time
- Kindness Always
What the crest means
Per pale Azure and Argent, dexter a dolphin embowed Argent, sinister an hourglass Azure.
- Azure (blue): truth and loyalty
- Argent (silver): peace and sincerity
- The dolphin: love, kindness and play
- The hourglass: patience and the value of time
- A shield split in two halves shows two families joined, as heraldry has long done for marriages
- The motto: Reverentia et Patientia (“By respect and patience”)
Values in this creed
Talk about it together
- What does respect look like at our dinner table?
- Do you feel listened to in this family? When most and when least?
- Who in our family is the most patient? How do they do it?
- When do you run out of patience fastest?