Naturally, everyone dreams of a picture-perfect family. You picture spending quality time with your loved ones and filling your home with happy laughter.
Not even in your wildest dream might you consider needing the help of a family counseling service. None thinks that they’ll need professional help to glue a family together.
Building a happy family isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s doable for everyone. Here are some secrets to let you experience the domestic bliss you crave.
Swap Stories
It’s almost customary for a parent to ask their kids about their day when they get home from school. Ironically, most parents don’t tell the children about their day at the office, especially when they’ve had a horrible day.
In such cases, most people want to plop into a chair, watch a movie, and drift to sleep. While that’s one way of winding down, it’s not the best. If you’re sad and feeling down, you’ll not be interested in talking to your kids. One look at you is all it takes to kill all the innocent joy and happiness. They’ll leave you alone and skulk away in their room.
Regardless of the kind of day you’ve had, try to put your family first when you get home. Ideally, you should have a story for them, however mundane. It gives the kids something to look forward to once you get home.
Enjoy Family Dinners
While family dinners are a tradition in many homes, their significance is lost on most people. Enjoying a meal as a family has a significant impact on your kids. Family dinners are one of the best predictors of how your children will behave during adolescence.
Children who frequently eat dinner with their entire family fare better in life. They excel in school, are less likely to engage in destructive behaviors, and are less prone to depression. They’re unlikely to engage in alcohol and drug abuse.
With a little as 30 minutes a day, you can create a connected family and ensure your kids have a bright future.
Learn to Reduce Stress
Parents are often under a huge amount of stress. After a hard day at the office, they must trade in their professional hat for the parental one. Both roles can be taxing and can leave you tired and stressed. If you don’t learn to manage your stress levels, it’ll harm your kids.
You’re likely to snap and yell at your kids while you’re stressed out over something. Temper outbursts are likely to drive a wedge between you and your loved ones. Rather than bottling your stress, you can learn healthy ways to deal with stressful situations. Some simple but effective ways to deal with stress include:
- Physical exercises
- Deep breathing
- Healthy eating
- Getting a massage
- Identifying and avoiding your triggers
Join a Larger Community
Why is it that religious families are happier? Surprisingly, it has little to do with religion, faith, or worship. Shocking, right? It turns out that having a supportive group of friends or community is the magic bullet.
Having at least ten supportive friends is the secret to making families happier. Religious folks are happier because they connect with a community of like-minded friends.
Human beings are social animals. They crave social connection as it gives them a sense of belonging. Find your community of like-minded people and spend time with them.
Have Mutual Interests
A huge divide exists between parents and their kids due to the age difference. The lack of shared interest magnifies the invisible walls between teens and their parents. Teens will hide away in their rooms chatting with friends while parents watch TV.
Such disconnect creates a wedge between family members. It’s advisable to find common ground or interests that allow the entire family to spend quality time. It could be as simple as a family dinner, a game, a trip, a cookout, anything. The goal here is to reinforce the family ties and create an enabling environment.
Make Your Home a Haven
Everyone flourishes — both emotionally and physically — when they have a safe place to come home to every day. A safe and secure home environment creates confident and balanced children. They feel wanted, loved, and protected, which allows them to stand up to life’s challenges.
No matter what they face out there or in school, they are sure to come home to a safe family environment. A sanctuary that allows them to recharge and face each day head-on. Naturally, parents who consciously build a nurturing environment are happier. There’s less animosity at home, and everyone enjoys a stress-free, carefree environment.
