Summary
- Communicate with each other.
- Spend time as a family.
- Respect each other.
- Ask for help.
Parents want to provide for their children. They want them to be healthy and happy. They want their home life to be pleasant and stress-free. Yet all those desires can cause stress and worry. The stress and worry can lead to a lack of communication, unhealthy habits, and an unhappy family.
According to the American Psychological Association, only 14 percent of tweens and teens report that they are not bothered when their parents are stressed. Children also mirror the ways parents deal with stress and setbacks.
If people want to set their families up to be healthier, stronger, and more successful, there are a few things they can do.
Communicate
Talking about little things sets the groundwork for when you need to talk about bigger problems. When your family members know you listen to them, they trust you when they need to tell you something important. Good communication means being honest, but kind. It also means checking to make sure you grasp what the person is saying. Ask questions.
Sharing a family meal without using electronic devices at the table is a good time for this. Many families are too busy to have dinner together every night. Find a mealtime that works for your family and sit together a few times a week to start.
If extended family isn’t nearby, regular phone calls are important. It helps children and adults feel like they have added support.
Keep television out of the bedroom so that you and your partner can catch up as you get ready for bed. This isn’t the time for serious discussion, but it will give you a few minutes to talk before drifting off to sleep.
Spend time together
Sometimes it feels like there isn’t any time to do something as a family. After dinner, there are dishes, homework, and bed. On the weekend, there are chores, errands, sporting events, or other activities. Do these things together. It may take longer to have your 5-year-old help with raking or to have your toddler put his toys away, but it makes them feel important. It shows them that it’s up to everyone to keep the family running. When it’s homework time, everyone can sit down to read, study, or catch up on work. You are modeling responsibility and work ethic.
Fun time and one-on-one time matters too. Rotate activities so everyone gets to do something they like. Try to spend time with one child at a time so they feel special. These activities don’t have to be expensive. It can be walking around the block, playing catch, or watching a movie together on the couch.
Don’t forget about your partner. Schedule a date night or some time away, if you can. Maybe it’s waking up an hour earlier than the kids to drink a cup of coffee together or going out to dinner once a month. Whatever it is, don’t forget that you were together before you had kids.
Say something nice
Let people in your family know you appreciate them. Congratulate them on achievements. Tell them what they are good at.
We get angry at those we love. When we do, we need to watch what we say to them. Sarcasm, name calling, or insults hurt more when they come from people in the family. Compliments or kind words heal wounds and show children how to express love.
Whether it is a temporary disagreement or a more permanent divide, remember to avoid remarks that cut down the other parent, especially in front of your child. You don’t have to like your ex, but keeping your child removed from the conflict is important.
Reach out to others and start small
If you think your family needs work in a lot of areas, make one change at a time. The success you feel will inspire you to make another change. And then another.
You may need help. If you can, ask extended family members to babysit so you can have alone time with your spouse or partner. It will give other family members time to connect to the child. If family is willing to help, accepting it, like a meal or letting them give the child a ride somewhere, can make a world of difference. If you are a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or other relative, offer these services to family who need it.
When problems or stressful events occur in your family, seek a mental health professional who can talk to you or your spouse or partner. You can also seek help if you aren’t sure where to begin.
Summary
- Communicate with each other.
- Spend time as a family.
- Respect each other.
- Ask for help.
Parents want to provide for their children. They want them to be healthy and happy. They want their home life to be pleasant and stress-free. Yet all those desires can cause stress and worry. The stress and worry can lead to a lack of communication, unhealthy habits, and an unhappy family.
According to the American Psychological Association, only 14 percent of tweens and teens report that they are not bothered when their parents are stressed. Children also mirror the ways parents deal with stress and setbacks.
If people want to set their families up to be healthier, stronger, and more successful, there are a few things they can do.
Communicate
Talking about little things sets the groundwork for when you need to talk about bigger problems. When your family members know you listen to them, they trust you when they need to tell you something important. Good communication means being honest, but kind. It also means checking to make sure you grasp what the person is saying. Ask questions.
Sharing a family meal without using electronic devices at the table is a good time for this. Many families are too busy to have dinner together every night. Find a mealtime that works for your family and sit together a few times a week to start.
If extended family isn’t nearby, regular phone calls are important. It helps children and adults feel like they have added support.
Keep television out of the bedroom so that you and your partner can catch up as you get ready for bed. This isn’t the time for serious discussion, but it will give you a few minutes to talk before drifting off to sleep.
Spend time together
Sometimes it feels like there isn’t any time to do something as a family. After dinner, there are dishes, homework, and bed. On the weekend, there are chores, errands, sporting events, or other activities. Do these things together. It may take longer to have your 5-year-old help with raking or to have your toddler put his toys away, but it makes them feel important. It shows them that it’s up to everyone to keep the family running. When it’s homework time, everyone can sit down to read, study, or catch up on work. You are modeling responsibility and work ethic.
Fun time and one-on-one time matters too. Rotate activities so everyone gets to do something they like. Try to spend time with one child at a time so they feel special. These activities don’t have to be expensive. It can be walking around the block, playing catch, or watching a movie together on the couch.
Don’t forget about your partner. Schedule a date night or some time away, if you can. Maybe it’s waking up an hour earlier than the kids to drink a cup of coffee together or going out to dinner once a month. Whatever it is, don’t forget that you were together before you had kids.
Say something nice
Let people in your family know you appreciate them. Congratulate them on achievements. Tell them what they are good at.
We get angry at those we love. When we do, we need to watch what we say to them. Sarcasm, name calling, or insults hurt more when they come from people in the family. Compliments or kind words heal wounds and show children how to express love.
Whether it is a temporary disagreement or a more permanent divide, remember to avoid remarks that cut down the other parent, especially in front of your child. You don’t have to like your ex, but keeping your child removed from the conflict is important.
Reach out to others and start small
If you think your family needs work in a lot of areas, make one change at a time. The success you feel will inspire you to make another change. And then another.
You may need help. If you can, ask extended family members to babysit so you can have alone time with your spouse or partner. It will give other family members time to connect to the child. If family is willing to help, accepting it, like a meal or letting them give the child a ride somewhere, can make a world of difference. If you are a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or other relative, offer these services to family who need it.
When problems or stressful events occur in your family, seek a mental health professional who can talk to you or your spouse or partner. You can also seek help if you aren’t sure where to begin.
Summary
- Communicate with each other.
- Spend time as a family.
- Respect each other.
- Ask for help.
Parents want to provide for their children. They want them to be healthy and happy. They want their home life to be pleasant and stress-free. Yet all those desires can cause stress and worry. The stress and worry can lead to a lack of communication, unhealthy habits, and an unhappy family.
According to the American Psychological Association, only 14 percent of tweens and teens report that they are not bothered when their parents are stressed. Children also mirror the ways parents deal with stress and setbacks.
If people want to set their families up to be healthier, stronger, and more successful, there are a few things they can do.
Communicate
Talking about little things sets the groundwork for when you need to talk about bigger problems. When your family members know you listen to them, they trust you when they need to tell you something important. Good communication means being honest, but kind. It also means checking to make sure you grasp what the person is saying. Ask questions.
Sharing a family meal without using electronic devices at the table is a good time for this. Many families are too busy to have dinner together every night. Find a mealtime that works for your family and sit together a few times a week to start.
If extended family isn’t nearby, regular phone calls are important. It helps children and adults feel like they have added support.
Keep television out of the bedroom so that you and your partner can catch up as you get ready for bed. This isn’t the time for serious discussion, but it will give you a few minutes to talk before drifting off to sleep.
Spend time together
Sometimes it feels like there isn’t any time to do something as a family. After dinner, there are dishes, homework, and bed. On the weekend, there are chores, errands, sporting events, or other activities. Do these things together. It may take longer to have your 5-year-old help with raking or to have your toddler put his toys away, but it makes them feel important. It shows them that it’s up to everyone to keep the family running. When it’s homework time, everyone can sit down to read, study, or catch up on work. You are modeling responsibility and work ethic.
Fun time and one-on-one time matters too. Rotate activities so everyone gets to do something they like. Try to spend time with one child at a time so they feel special. These activities don’t have to be expensive. It can be walking around the block, playing catch, or watching a movie together on the couch.
Don’t forget about your partner. Schedule a date night or some time away, if you can. Maybe it’s waking up an hour earlier than the kids to drink a cup of coffee together or going out to dinner once a month. Whatever it is, don’t forget that you were together before you had kids.
Say something nice
Let people in your family know you appreciate them. Congratulate them on achievements. Tell them what they are good at.
We get angry at those we love. When we do, we need to watch what we say to them. Sarcasm, name calling, or insults hurt more when they come from people in the family. Compliments or kind words heal wounds and show children how to express love.
Whether it is a temporary disagreement or a more permanent divide, remember to avoid remarks that cut down the other parent, especially in front of your child. You don’t have to like your ex, but keeping your child removed from the conflict is important.
Reach out to others and start small
If you think your family needs work in a lot of areas, make one change at a time. The success you feel will inspire you to make another change. And then another.
You may need help. If you can, ask extended family members to babysit so you can have alone time with your spouse or partner. It will give other family members time to connect to the child. If family is willing to help, accepting it, like a meal or letting them give the child a ride somewhere, can make a world of difference. If you are a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or other relative, offer these services to family who need it.
When problems or stressful events occur in your family, seek a mental health professional who can talk to you or your spouse or partner. You can also seek help if you aren’t sure where to begin.