10 Things Happy Families Do Differently

"Last night, an old friend from high school – a hometown success story and entrepreneur who owns and operates a large publicly traded company - a man whom I have a great deal of respect for - came over to our home for dinner. After a delicious meal, he and I chatted for a couple hours in the family room and caught up on old times. And as we wrapped things up, he said, "I admire you. I admire the love in this home – the obvious love between you and Angel. I admire the close relationships you've built and nurtured. When I'm here it feels like I'm part of the family. Nurturing a happy family is one of the things I never got around to. So it was great to see it, feel it, and be a part of it tonight. Thank you."

When I sat down to write this morning, my friend's remarks immediately came to mind. Which got me thinking... What does nurturing a happy family really mean? What are some things happy families do differently?" [read more]

Title: Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids
By: Laura Markham Stage: Any
"Most parenting books focus on changing a child's behaviour, but the truth is that children change only when their relationship with their parents changes. When parents develop an empathic understanding that allows them to see things from the child's perspective, real change can take place for the good. Bringing together the latest research in brain development with a focus on emotional awareness (for both parents and children), this approach eliminates threats, power struggles and manipulation, in favour of setting limits, with empathy and communication." -- Publisher

Reflect on what makes your family a happy family and be grateful! Also, take a moment to reflect on the 10 themes shared in the article and try to focus on one or two of them that could help your family to be happier.