For the Team

1. A group on the same side, as in a game.

2. A group organized for work or activity

3.a. Two or more draft animals used to pull a vehicle or farm implement.

5. A brood or flock.

Seems using a team metaphor for family dynamics keeps me semantically in line!

I like the business definition of team for expanded emphasis on a cohesive group with a purpose in common.

Here’s the www.businessdictionary.com definition:

• A group of people with a full set of complementary skills required to complete a task, job, or project.
• Team members (1) operate with a high degree of interdependence,
• (2) share authority and responsibility for self-management,
• (3) are accountable for the collective performance, and
• (4) work toward a common goal and shared reward(s).

For family, being on a team means knowing that my own actions influence what happens to our whole family- I can help or hurt. Being on the team means I care about what is important to other people, and that what they are connected to, has ties to me.

• Currently, Eli is into Minecraft, so I must enter in to see, know, and care about each roller coaster constructed.
• I work at the Crossfit gym. On days when the family is there with me after a late class and I’m closing up, Drew and the kids help to turn off lights, pick up extra equipment, and take out the trash. It’s my job, but because they are on my team, they pitch in.
• Andi doesn’t like to be late, but also doesn’t like to be rushed. Drew is great to keep the morning on track so Andi is out the door on time and still emotionally in tact.
• Drew is calm in the mundane, and I’m calm when things are more insane. Between the two of us, we have regular days, and crazy times, covered!

Winning, as our family team, happens when all on our own, we think outside of our self.

Celebration doesn’t happen only because of a major family win (Our garden grew! We are headed to a vacation!), we can celebrate each individual win (Andi finished the puzzle! Eli scored 7 goals! Oaks says sentences!) and sustain each other in loss- collective or individual.

Everything that happens within our team requires the care, attention, and investment of energy of every person on the team.

The reward is growing in our awareness of what other people need, entering into how other people feel, showing people we are on their side when they are stuck or sad, and being cheered on by people who love us all the time, no matter what.