FAMILY MATTERS
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How to Strengthen the Bond Between Family Members ences and talk to one another. You don't have to do something super elaborate to build stronger bonds; even a day at the park can be helpful. And you don't have to do it with your entire family; you can go on outings with one or two relatives at a time.
BY MARY CAMPBELL
H
aving family dinners every day of the week might be unrealistic for many families. And even if you're able to sit down and eat together once or twice a week, the quality of your interactions may not be as strong as you'd like. Outsourced work, long commutes, school and after-school activities, and other modern stressors can all weaken family members' bonds. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to help strengthen your family ties. Regardless of how often you eat together or how close you feel on any given day, strengthening your connection as family members will pay tangible dividends in the long run. These strategies will help you develop stronger relationships with fellow family members. Talk Often If you want to foster better communication with your family members, you have to talk to them. You can't expect your family to know what's going on in your life if you don't open up to them. Even if you're close to your relatives, you may be
hesitant to open up because you think you don't have anything interesting to say. But everyone has a story to tell, and it's important to talk about more than surface-level topics like the weather. Be honest and open about your feelings. Plan Time Together Family outings are a great way to strengthen your bonds as a family. You can take advantage of the changing seasons to do a variety of activities, like hitting the pumpkin patch in October or the strawberry patch in May. Whether you're indoors or outdoors, family outings provide a great opportunity to share experi-
Grow Together Members of your family probably want to see you succeed, and vice versa. But often, their desire to help has nothing to do with your success. It may just be a natural human response to be supportive toward others. To help one another, you'll have to put some effort into it. You might consider forming a support group or simply holding one another accountable for your goals. Whatever you do, make sure you're helping each other, not hindering each other's progress. For example, if one of your siblings needs help finding a job, don't tell them to "just apply to more places." Instead, help them develop a solid plan of action and hold them accountable to it. Establish Shared Rituals Rituals are a great way to bring you and your family members together. They're
not something you do once and then say, "We did it!" They're ongoing, and they can be modified as needed. For example, you could make a big meal every Sunday and invite your grandparents over. Or you could host a regular game night. The frequency and types of activities don't matter as much as your having something you do together regularly. Be Available and Supportive Be available to family members and support them in their endeavors. Let your relatives know that you are always there for them. There are many ways you can be supportive. Provide them with positive reinforcement, support their goals, and be a good listener when they need someone to talk to. Conclusion Family bonds can be fragile, especially if you aren't actively working to strengthen them. Keep the lines of communication open with frequent phone calls or text messages just to let them know you are thinking of them. Get together often and have fun. A healthy family support system can strengthen you and every member of your family.l
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