10 Surprising Practices of Successful Multigenerational Families

1. View Age 18 as a Starting, Not a Finish Line: Recognizing the 20s as a pivotal decade for growth, they invest heavily in each member’s personal and professional development to shape their future.

2. Help their Kids have Kids Early and Often: To strengthen generational bonds, strategic families prioritize having children early. Each year delay reduces the time grandchildren have to learn from their grandparents, so they aim to maximize continuity by growing the family quickly.

3. Foster a Father’s Council: Once adult sons become fathers, they earn a seat at the family’s decision-making table. This council ensures their voices are heard while balancing the needs of their individual branch with the broader family’s mission, fostering unity and collaboration.

4. Host an Annual Family Summit: Rather than casual reunions, thriving families hold purposeful annual summits funded by the eldest generation. These gatherings cast a unified vision, assess progress, and recommit to the family’s shared goals, advancing like a cohesive, expanding force.

5. Celebrate Talent Through Family Showcases: Recognizing and nurturing individual talents is vital for family success. Talent shows provide a platform for members to display their skills, receive constructive feedback, and gain support to maximize their potential.

6. Safeguard Daughters from Harm: Daughters are cherished treasures in multigenerational families. Men in the family rigorously vet suitors and uphold marital fidelity, protecting daughters from predators and the cultural fallout of societal shifts like the sexual revolution.

7. Create a Family Bank: To alleviate financial pressures, families establish a bank offering matching grants for education, entrepreneurial ventures, or early childbearing. This support empowers each branch to achieve economic independence while pursuing ambitious goals.

8. Forge Mastery Contracts with Children: When a child shows sustained interest in a skill, the family commits to a multi-year “mastery contract.” This includes funding for coaching and expenses in exchange for the child’s dedication to overcoming challenges and achieving expertise.

9. Uphold the Father as a Revered Patriarch: A respected father sets a noble example for his sons to emulate. The family honors his leadership, fostering a culture of respect and high standards, where disrespect is not tolerated, and the patriarch models integrity.

10. Cherish the Mother as the Family’s Heart: The matriarch, having borne and raised the family, is revered and protected for life. Her security and honor inspire her daughters to emulate her, creating a legacy of strength and grace at the heart of the family.