Spice For Spouse

10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family

Most parents are doing a good job of parenting but don't realize it. All parents should understand that there are no perfect families. Likewise, there is no perfect parenting method. But we believe that we need some useful guidelines for building and maintaining a happy family. Here they are presented in a nutshell for your blessing. Read it carefully, prayerfully and with an open mind and try to apply these practical principles to your family situations.

1. Be there for your kids
Your children regard your presence as a sign of caring and sharing (even when they don't seem to do so!). Your presence provides kids with a greater sense of security than almost any other quality parents can offer.

2. Express affection, warmth and encouragement
Families with a sense of affection, warmth and encouragement (A.W.E)  as opposed to shame-based parenting  is a home where children and spouses will feel more secure.

3. Build healthy morals and values
The decisions kids make today will often affect them for the rest of their lives. Parents have significant powers of influence through modeling and teaching over the morals and values their kids carry into adulthood!

4. Discipline with consistency
Clearly expressed expectations and consistent follow-through produce responsible kids. Make your goal of discipline as one of your primary responsibilities in teaching your kids scripture based obedience.

5. Ruthlessly eliminate stress
The unbalanced life will not be kind to the areas we neglect.  Parents must make the difficult decisions of reducing the effect of our culture's breathless pace on their family.

6. Communication is key
Positive communication is the language of love for our children.  Parents must take the initiative to set the tone for family communication which includes the important skill of listening.

7. Play is necessary for a close-knit family
There is nothing like play to bring about family togetherness and communication. Play builds family memories, reduces family stress and produces support and affirmation.

8. Love your spouse
A loving marriage brings hope and security to your children. At times, this means putting your spouse's needs ahead of your children's needs.

9. Let your life reflect the understanding that the best things in life are not things
Healthy stewardship and financial decisions produce positive family priorities.

10. Energize your family's spiritual growth
Your greatest calling in life is to leave a spiritual legacy for your children. Pay close attention to your own spiritual health and model a healthy spirituality for your family. What we leave in them is more important that what we leave for them.