Do you know that close family ties are starting to decline due to the rapid changes in society these days? Sadly, 4 out of 10 marriages end in divorce. Divorce causes children not to have a solid relationship with their parents.
No one can dictate to couples how to live their lives and what family values they should practice. But if there’s one thing most people can agree on, setting family values helps prevent failed marriages.
As parents, you have the responsibility to bring your family closer together in any way you can. Creating a culture that promotes love, respect, trust, and unity is what’s going to get your family together. Here’s what you need to do to bring your family closer together.
Be A Leader
Being a leader is a necessary trait to have if you have a family. Leadership is not limited to fathers only. Even mothers need to know how to lead. Leaders need to have three crucial things in mind: spirit, vision, and action.
You might think that being a leader means you can dictate to your family what to do. But that is not what good leadership is all about. It’s about having goals and knowing how to bring your family there. It would be best if you took the right actions to achieve your family goals as you encourage everyone to participate and do their best.
Promote Family Values
One of the biggest challenges that young people face nowadays is the lack of personal values, often due to a lack of family values. Promoting values is about envisioning what type of family you want and what kind of person each member wants to be. Here are some values you can teach to your family:
- Find your life’s meaning and know the essential things in your life.
- Always value the people you care about.
- Live with discipline and integrity, and let these things direct your life
- Embrace good health (mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually)
Create Home Culture
As your family’s leader, it’s also vital that you create a culture that will promote love and respect within your home. A home culture is the sense of belongingness of each family member whenever they step in your front door. It’s about knowing that once they get home, they are safe, and they are with the people who love them the most.
One of the best ways to create a home culture is eating together during meals or having a movie night at the patio. You can renovate your patio so it will have a more welcoming feeling for the entire family. You can check out some design ideas on Pinterest, Just Patios, or social media sites.
Be Physically and Emotionally Present
Being present mean being there for you family physically and emotionally. If you want to create a home culture that your kids and spouse will value, it’s essential for them to feel your presence all the time. Moreover, you have to be the first person to practice family values. As the person who wants to bring your family closer together, the action starts with you.
Always Make Time
Parents tend to be busy all the time. And before they even know it, their hectic schedules are already starting to take control of their lives. While there is nothing wrong with being a busy person, it’s important to make time for your family.
When you’re too busy, your family will think that you do not want to be disturbed. Because of this, your family will not develop any close relationships with each other. If you’re going to be close to your children, make it a habit to spend quality time with them.
Do What’s Right
Sometimes, it’s hard for parents to impose what’s right because they are too occupied with irrelevant things. Indeed, telling your kids ‘No’ and ‘That’s not right’ is quite challenging. It becomes particularly hard for parents, especially if they have teens, but you have the responsibility to teach them right from wrong.
Apart from teaching your children to do what’s right, you also have to be a role model. They need to see that you practice what you preach so that they will follow in your footsteps. As you might already know, kids copy what they see. In short, they will follow everything you do and say.
Have Fun
While you need to be strict at some point, it’s also crucial for your kids to enjoy their lives while they are young. Children tend to be closer to their parents if they know your entire personality. As much as possible, let your kids know that your home is a safe space for them to have fun.
As kids grow older, they learn to be independent. And when they become independent, they don’t spend much time at home anymore. Teach them the importance of loving the family while they are young, so they will continue to value family time even when they grow old.
