Happy Families!

Healthy Happy Families!

Yes, you can have a happy and healthy family. It starts with the parents, grandparents, and/or caregivers. Children copy the adults. Adults learn parenting from their parents.

It only requires one person to begin a new trend. That person will be the one who reads this newsletter. Whether young or old, rich or poor educated or not, everyone can begin a new way of relating. People copy their own family of origin and think it is normal!!

Is there yelling in your home? Are people threatening, demanding and rude? Do people neglect to listen when anyone is talking? Is there physical violence toward people, pets or things? Do people eat together around a table? Do family members talk with each other? Does everyone naturally say Please and Thank you? Does everyone share in the everyday chores? Do people feel needed and important? Are there shared activities and having fun? Do family members feel valued and appreciated? Are people encouraged to ask rather than complain? Is there respect, responsibility and cooperation in the home?

Keys to Successful Family Partnership When all share a common goal, they join together and participate in decisions and work. When family members are honest with one another with no secrecy, guilt or blame, they feel safe. When everyone helps out to the best of their ability, everyone wins and feels valued. When all are committed to the common welfare, the family unity creates success. When each person takes full responsibility for their part, they can easily forgive any upset.

When one person in the family begins to respect themselves and others, everyone wakes up. When one person treats everyone as they want to be treated, everyone learns how to do the same. When one person is truly helpful to everyone without expecting anything, others begin to help. When one person uses respectful language and responsible behavior, people start to cooperate.

If you are the One, it is time for you to challenge yourself to begin. You need no agreement to do the right and helpful thing no matter what. You can calm yourself and bring peace and happiness to others. You can love, respect and trust yourself to do what is good for all.

Qualities of Functional Families

Respect Respect is the Holy Grail of functional families. Being considerate of each other is the tie that binds, even more than love. Emotionally Safe Environment All members of the family can state their opinions, thoughts, wants, dreams, desires and feelings without fear of being slammed, shamed, belittled or dismissed. Resilient Foundation

Healthy relationships can withstand stress, even trauma, and, if not bounce back, at least recover. Part of building resilience is being supportive of each other, no matter what. Privacy

Privacy of space, body and thought. Knock and ask permission to enter before going through a closed door. Provide and respect clear boundaries. Accountability

Being accountable means respectfully and reasonably informing people in the family where you are and what you are doing so they can grow trust and not worry. Apologize When you make a mistake or overstep, quickly apologize, then ask for (and receive) forgiveness. Allow Reasonable Expression of Emotions

Expressions of unhappiness or hurt can be accepted and responded to with respect. Gentle on Teasing and Sarcasm

Don’t use either as a poorly masked put down. Allows People to Change and Grow

A functional family lets people define themselves—and change those definitions. No “labelling”. Parenting is Co-Parenting Parents, divorced or married, support the same standards and messages so children experience consistency. Courtesy

Liberally use ‘please’ or ‘thank you’, ‘you’re welcome’ or ‘I’m sorry’. Teamwork

Functional families play, work and problem solve together. Eat Meals Together Research shows that communication within a family is enhanced if we take more meals together. Follow The Golden Rule “Treat each other as we wish to be treated.” It was true way back when and it’s still true now.

Loving you, Betty Lue

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