What Makes a Family Strong?
By John Rosemond
What makes a family strong? Not money or material things, but that ineffable thing called love. Love is both expressed and strengthened when a family does things together, things that create traditions and positive memories.
With that simple principle in mind, here are 10 things you can do to make your family stronger. May your family be a fountain of love, strengthening all family members and our great nation, as well.
1. Eat the evening meal as a family in your own home at least four nights a week.
2. Go out on occasional “dates” with each of your children. These occasions do not need to be at night, nor do they require spending a lot of money.
3. Make a significant reduction in the family’s “screen time.” Instead of watching or surfing, talk to one another, take walks together, or just sit in the same room and read together.
4. Schedule an hour every week as uninterrupted family time – during which you play a game, plan your next vacation, discuss and resolve a family issue, or just sit and fidget.
5. Teach your children domestic skills. You not only help them prepare for their futures as independent people but enable their contribution to the family unit’s welfare.
6. Create and maintain a family vegetable/flower garden. Grow your own tomatoes, broccoli and daffodils. Teach your children what’s involved in bringing forth bounty from the earth. Make Thanksgiving come every day of the year.
7. In recognition that only adults who take good care of themselves can take good care of children, hire a sitter one night a week and go on a date. If you’re not living with a spouse, call a friend and do the town – or part of it.
8. Practice good family manners by emphasizing a good practice each month. In January, for example, emphasize saying “thank you” to one another.
9. Introduce your children to different cultural experiences.
10. Get involved as a family in charitable work. The hand that gives to those in need always comes back filled with riches.