Fespp

Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Strengthening families strengthens the human spirit, soothes hearts, and salves souls, thus reducing personal stress.  According to a book that I read here are some of the possibilities you can consider that you can do to shore up your family:

Take charge. First, take charge of your family. As a couple, consider yourselves an executive committee. (If you’re a single-parent family, consider yourself a committee of one.) As executives, charge yourself with assuring that your family gets ample time, energy, and resources.

Budget time. In taking charge, budget your time just as you do your money. Only so many dollars exist in your financial budget. Similarly, only so many minutes, hours, and days exist in your time budget. Make your time, as well as your dollars, count.

Schedule. Hold weekly meetings to reserve quality time for your family by checking out some of the best deals. Then, and only then, allocate adjustable and discretionary time. You can put up a mark on a calendar to block out family time. You may want to plan a whole year ahead for family vacations, school, or other holidays. Protect family time as you would any significant work commitment.

Structure. Most often parents can reduce family stress by establishing structure. Across the board, kids are creatures of habit and thrive on routine. When they realize a routine is here to stay, kids will soon accept that routine, depend on it, and take comfort in the security they derive from predictability.

Make dinnertime a family affair. Do your best to have meals together as often as possible and, in particular, make dinnertime a time of family bonding. Share interesting events of the day, funny stories or cartoons, pleasant experience.