Raising a Happy Family

Dinner: 30 Minutes to a More Connected Family

"Surrounded by the people who matter, gazing into the faces we love, we count our blessings and share our burdens, reliving the daily dramas of missed buses and skinned knees. We raise jelly glasses and champagne flutes, toasting accomplishments in classrooms and boardrooms. The table is where we mark milestones, divulge dreams, bury hatchets, make deals, give thanks, plan vacations, and tell jokes. It’s also where children learn the lessons that families teach: manners, cooperation, communication, self-control, values. Following directions. Sitting still. Taking turns. It’s where we make up and make merry. It’s where we live, between bites."  -Doris Christopher

7 Ways Kids Benefit When You Use Routines

Getting Your Child Out the Door In the Morning

 

"Now that school is back in session and I need to get both kids out the door and myself to work, I’m always running late. No matter how early I get up and get everything prepared the night before, my 4 yr. old is sooo slow and it is a nightmare... No matter how I phrase the request, 'Let’s get our clothes on so we can get something to eat, who can do this faster let’s race, or who wants to be a cheetah or a turtle, do you want to do it or me, pick between these two shirts, etc'….he will take the opposite position or just start whining or collapse to the floor... refusing to move, making it virtually impossible for me to help him get dressed which I have to do or else it would take another half hour…..He is also very stubborn and will remove all his clothes because he didn’t do it himself ……He will say, “I don’t want to get up or pee” even though I know he needs to do these things and he is so slow that I find myself losing it... All the time, I’ve got my 17 mo. old on my hip crying to get downstairs to eat....I want all of us to have as full of a bucket as we can; not a depleted one as is the case by the time we get to school and work."

Surviving Arsenic Hour

Every parent knows arsenic hour, when hunger, homework, and exhaustion merge into one big emotional accident waiting to happen. One obvious reason that kids have meltdowns at the end of the day is that they're hungry and tired, whether they've been home with you or out at school. But there's another reason. After having spent the day apart, your child feels disconnected from you. He may not show you that he wants to connect, or even know it, but feeling disconnected makes him feel anxious. Until he reconnects, he'll let you know how alone he feels by acting cranky and uncooperative.

The Family That Plays Together

From the infectious fun of side-splitting laughter to the exuberance of an impromptu pillow fight, infusing a spirit of joy and playfulness into your home nurtures your family like little else.

How to Use Family Meetings to Build a Closer Family

Does the idea of Family Meetings seem stilted and artificial to you? It certainly did to me, when I first heard about them.

Sanctuary: Making your Home a Haven

Home, which once served as our refuge, is no longer a sanctuary for most of us. Cell phone calls, texts, social media notifications and emails connect us constantly with the outside world, at the same time interrupting our contact with our families. In some homes, the TV is on constantly, blaring news of upsetting events and life and death dramas.

Family Culture: Shared Identity and Belonging

How do you hold a family together? How do you make kids WANT to spend time with the family? How do you give your children the motivation to work things through with their siblings and with you? Much of the answer has to do with the family culture you create, which can take your family life from good to great. Here's how.

Moving? 10 Tips To Help Your Child Adjust

"Dr. Laura....We're moving to Texas this summer. My 7 year old is furious, my 4 year old is clingy, and my toddler doesn't seem to understand what a move is. How can I make this easier on everyone?"

How can I help my kids through my divorce?

If you're getting divorced, you're probably worried about your child or children. So you'll be heartened to know that the research shows that kids can cope with a divorce and come out just fine.