If you're a parent, you definitely want nothing more than a successful, happy family. Great, that's the first step! Desiring to make your family work is the key to having "the best family in the world." My family is 10 years old with kids both under the age of nine. Over the years, we discovered what works to keep our family happy. Here's what we learned:
Accept and respect that each individual is unique - Whether dad is not a handy-man kind of guy, or mom's passion is not cooking, it's okay if we are not like most parents out there. The same way goes to our kids. No matter how much we try to understand why they are completely opposite of each other despite the fact that they are from the same parents. Accepting and respecting each person's uniqueness is important.Have dinner together - There's something about sitting together as a family for dinner. It's a time for everyone to share their low's and high's of the day - a simple game to encourage communication and sharing. As a parents, we love hearing what makes our kids happy and sad. So innocent and pure.
Try Humor Therapy - You don't have to be sick to do therapy. Research shows that laughing releases our brain's feel-good chemicals, reduces stress, improves our immune system among its many therapeutic benefits. I still have a tickle time with my kids everyday. And when I am feeling off-beat myself, my husband just knows how to make me laugh. It works and laughter is the sweetest sound of all.
Play together - Enjoy your family by doing activities together. Read a book, play board games, bake cookies. Go outdoors and teach your kids to fly a kite or climb a tree more than just doing electronic games together. Playing promotes bonding time and plus kids respond well to it!
Schedule date nights - Having a family can be overwhelming and it's easy to get stuck in that routine. Taking time off from parent duty can sometimes be the smartest thing to do. Start with few hours to spend with your spouse, kids-free. Watch a movie, go to a restaurant, do something you both enjoy. If you don't have a babysitter, have your date at home. Put the kids early to bed, and have the rest of the night together. Fall in love and get excited with each other again. Realize that you are husband and wife first before your were parents.
Never fight in front of the kids - Kids learn love and affection through their parents. Any misunderstanding or argument is healthy in any marriage as long as it's resolved and not done in front of the kids.
Honor and celebrate family traditions, culture and religion - Traditions can be cultural or family-specific. They bring the family closer together because they are repeated over time. If you're big on birthdays, family movie nights, or Friday night pizza, go ahead. Create your own family traditions. Honor cultural rituals in your family. Respect each other if you have religious differences.
Communicate - Make sure mom does not become the messenger for the whole family. A happy family must keep communication open. In the same way, everybody should be free to express how they feel.
Each of these tips can help you promote happiness in your family. Issues, arguments, financial stress, messy house at times will be present. Remember, a happy family doesn't mean it's perfect. But it's your family so treasure it and enjoy the journey of growing deeper, closer together.
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