Fostering good family relationships

Fostering good family relationships take work, lots of love and a sprinkle of patience. It isn't always easy but always well worth the time you put into it. Many family relationships today are not designed and nurtured the way they were even twenty years ago. Dynamic and sometimes complicated situations are mixed in to make them more challenging. In a world of divorce that translates into second marriages with step-parents and siblings relationships can be larger in scope and more difficult to sustain. Yet with every challenge comes a blessing and it is up to each of us to help these relationships grow.

The divorce rate is now up to fifty percent which means that most of us have gone through a parents divorce or one of our own. Mixing families that have siblings from different mothers and fathers take time, understanding and well meaning heart to make them grow. Not every situation will produce best friends or bonding. The decision to make them successful even as acquaintances is up to each of us individually. Remember you only get out of a relationship what you put into it and that applies to family as well as friends or spouses. Loving and accepting people for who they are is the first step to a successful family relationship.

Not everyone in your family will agree with you, your lifestyle or decisions. If you get one or two your very lucky. Also not everyone is going to like the things you do or achieve them the same way. You will be reminded of this when you have children and twenty family members tell you twenty different ways to raise your children. Opinions run ramped in families. Everyone has one and very few will you agree with totally. Love them anyway! If you accept their opinions, suggestions and guidance with the love it is meant for then it will help you find peace when you realize you can't please everyone. Don't take everything personally either, family was put on earth to point out every option, mistake and error known to mankind you have committed over the years that your friends wouldn't dare. This is why they are your friends and not your family.
Successful family relationships can only be achieve through acceptance and by investing the time it takes to produce good results. Similar to test taking in school. If you study, participate in class and get interested you will have no problem passing but if you ignore, get mad and sleep through it then you will struggle the entire time. When you take the time to find out about your siblings, cousins, parents or grandparents you might find that they are different than what you first conceived. They may even have reasons for being annoying, pestering or bothersome. Reflecting on what you have learned about them and composing a plan on how to deal with them in order to avoid awkward situations will help ease the tension sometimes felt at family gatherings.

Not every family member will be your friend but you can find ways to make peace with them. When peace is found, civility is gained then your entire family will begin to heal through the process. Creating an environment where family feels welcome, accepted and loved increases the likelihood of a successful family relationship.