The Secrets to Having a Happy Family!

[Harry Okoyibo]

Is your family a happy family? When you come home from a long day at the office, do you look forward to the peace and joy that will greet you when you walk through your front door? If not, here are 3 secrets that will help you turn your family into the happy family you want it to be.

1. Determine Child Discipline Ahead of Time

Many, many arguments between a husband and wife come because of differences in opinion about how to disciple the children. So you two need to find some time alone and away from the children and agree on how to discipline. Children can sense weakness, and they can sense disagreement. If they know that you and your spouse don’t agree on discipline, they will more than likely play one parent against another. This battle could lead to the ultimate destruction of your marriage.

2. Talk Often

It seems that one of the hardest things to get couples to do is talk about their relationship. I know talking about your relationship requires openness, honesty, and intimacy, but relationship talk is an absolute must. Set some time aside every week or two to just talk about your relationship. Don’t start off talking about the bad aspects – talk about the good aspects first. If you have not talked about your relationship in a while, spend the first couple of weeks talking about the good before you ever mention the bad.

3. Put Your Children Second

In every marriage relationship, the children should come in second to the spouse. If you only focus on making your children happy, then you are neglecting the relationship with your marriage partner. I have seen so many couples stay together “because of the children” and then separate when the children left the home. Why did this happen? Because somewhere along the way, one or both of the spouses placed more importance on making the children happy than making each other happy. You didn’t get married for your children – you got married because you loved your spouse. Don’t let your children get in the way of your love.

Is your marriage struggling? Do you wish your spouse would change but you just don’t know how to change them?

Courtesy of http://www.happyfamilykeys.blogspot.com/