Sami Frey
Emmanuel
Search results
Here are four ways to honor your mother as a married man. Sexual Wholeness. Identity and sex are vitally tied—and not just in LGBT+ conversations. In talking to kids about sex, identity is more important than you think. Family and Marriage, Help and Hope for Marriages and Families.
- Weekend to Remember
Each day, each choice — you’re either moving closer...
- Browse All Blog Posts
Nixing the gift exchange might be nontraditional, but it’s...
- Career Opportunities
Come Join Our Family You want to be a part of a community...
- Small Group Studies
Find enriching Bible studies from FamilyLife for your small...
- Weekend to Remember
- Overview
- Spending Quality Time Together
- Improving Communication
- Handling Conflicts as a Parent
- Handling Conflicts as a Child
Improving your family life can help make your family members closer and prevent conflicts from getting in the way of everyone's happiness. Fortunately, there are lots of concrete steps you can take to make your time with your family more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Maintain daily and weekly family routines.
Eat, go to sleep, and do regular family activities according to a predictable schedule. Routines and rituals help establish a family identity, reduce stress, and create a stable, comfortable environment.
In addition to improving communication, regular family meetings can be a major part of your family routine.
Try to practice leaving work at work whenever possible and focus on your family when you're with them.
Make celebrating birthdays and holidays together with a family tradition.
You don’t have to do the same thing every birthday or holiday. For instance, you could go to a family member’s favorite restaurant or do their favorite activity on their birthday. You’d be sticking to a tradition, but the activities would be varied.
Respect what your family members have to say.
When someone expresses an opinion, don't dismiss it or interrupt them before they can finish speaking. Maintaining open, respectful communication channels will help your family develop trust and strengthen your bond.
For instance, avoid making fun of your siblings whenever they express an opinion. If your siblings pick on you, try telling them, “I know that all brothers and sisters mess with each other, but it hurts my feelings when you make fun of everything I say.”
Avoid harsh criticism and judgments.
Give each other permission to express emotions and act silly without fear of criticism or judgment. When people expect harsh judgment, they tend to bottle things up and avoid sharing their feelings.
If you’re a parent, offer positive, constructive criticism, and try to discourage your children from harshly judging each other. Instead of saying, “No, that’s not how you do that,” say, “Good try, but let me help you do this the right way.”
Balance your role as a parent with your child’s need for freedom.
One of the key conflicts in any family is between a parent’s need to keep their child safe and a child’s need for freedom. Remain a figure of authority, but give your children opportunities to earn your trust. Slowly increase their freedom and privileges as they mature.
For instance set a curfew when your teen goes out, and if they stick to it for a few months, extend it a little later.
Try to set a positive example if you’re arguing with your spouse.
If you and your spouse argue, remember that the way you resolve disagreements teaches your children about conflict resolution. Stick to the specific issue instead of bringing up past offenses or resorting to personal attacks. If necessary, sort out an argument when your children aren’t present.
Mediate your kids' fights only when necessary.
Respect your parents' need to protect you.
While children need increasing degrees of freedom as they get older, remember that your parents are in charge. Their job is to keep you safe and give you the tools you'll need to take care of yourself when you're an adult.
If your parent doesn't allow you to go out without an adult or makes you go to bed early, remember that they have your best interests in mind.
When your parent is open to negotiating something, like a curfew, maturely talk to them. Make your case calmly and clearly, and don't whine or yell to get your way if they say no.
Find ways to compromise if you're fighting with a sibling.
Try to avoid blaming or shaming the other person, and say, “Time out - let’s think of a way we can agree with this.” Keep your cool and find ways you could share a toy or play together.
- 610.4K
Oct 4, 2019 · Let’s look at six areas of family life you can focus on to help build strong cohesion and high morale. 1. A shared purpose, driven by shared values, pulls people together. When a family has...
5 days ago · Listen to podcasts from FamilyLife, a ministry that helps couples and families thrive. Learn from experts and stories on topics like marriage, parenting, faith, and community.
Jan 18, 2024 · Learn how family influences emotional, cognitive, social, and physical development across the lifespan. Discover the benefits of family for children, adults, and society, and the challenges of family estrangement.
Jan 10, 2023 · Learn how to have healthy family relationships that can provide comfort, support, and well-being in times of stress. Find out the benefits of healthy families, the qualities they share, and how to cope with common family issues.
