Affirmations:
I offer my family the best in me.
I give myself a “time-out” when I need to calm myself.
I nurture and nourish myself and my family with healthy meals.
I treat everyone with the kindness, love and respect.
Family Guide
See Qualities of a Functional Family below.
Do you know how to build a true Healthy Family?
Have you ever experienced what you really want?
Do you know how to demonstrate and teach healthy relationships?
Have you received and given the Love you deserve?
If you have what you want, no need to read this.
If you have not, it is time to learn and earn the love, trust and respect you deserve.
If you know how to parent, partner and participate, you can be happy for all you know and do.
If you don’t know how to take care of you and those you love, start here to learn.
Safety and security are essential for the functional foundation of family.
This means proper food prepared with love and appreciation.
This means having what you need to eat and drink.
This means having good rejuvenating rest.
Make sure no one is hungry and eats in a calm kind environment.
This means no yelling, clean food prepared on time without news and eating around the TV.
When people are distracted when eating, they don’t appreciate and enjoy the food.
There needs to be easy conversation, in a family setting with people sharing good feelings.
When people are well fed and well rested, they do better in every way.
Choose good rest in a quiet clean environment is healthful.
Go to bed early so you can get up without an alarm or need to be awoken.
Have a quiet time before bed with kind words of comfort and appreciation.
Begin with the basics for healthy bodies and happy minds.
Ensure children and adults are treated with care and kindness.
Speak with respect to one another.
Be helpful and respond to others in loving ways.
There is no need for yelling or demanding where there is mutual respect.
Everyone can learn from the adults who are kind and respectful.
Children trust parents who are safe in how they behave and speak.
Children respond to what adults say and do consistently.
Consider giving your self and others time out to calm and center yourself.
Consider speaking the way you want to be spoken to.
Consider teaching by example and learning what is a better way.
Adults lead by example when they behave in a mature safe way.
Regular meals at regular time is important for bodies to thrive.
Regular sleep at regular time is healthy for minds and bodies to rest well.
Calming environment is essential for no anxiety and positive feelings.
Speak clearly and concisely in a quiet environment to be heard.
This is just the beginning of good connection and easy connection with everyone.
Time to begin at home to create the world we want for ourselves and our children.
Only wanting the best for you and your family.
Betty Lue
QUALITIES OF FUNCTIONAL FAMILIES
Respect
Respect is the Holy Grail of functional families. Being considerate of each other is the tie that binds, even more than love.
Emotionally Safe Environment
All members of the family can state their opinions, thoughts, wants, dreams, desires and feelings without fear of being slammed, shamed, belittled or dismissed.
Resilient Foundation
Healthy relationships can withstand stress, even trauma, and, if not bounce back, at least recover. Part of building resilience is being supportive of each other, no matter what.
Privacy
Privacy of space, body and thought. Knock and ask permission to enter before going through a closed door. Provide and respect clear boundaries.
Accountability
Being accountable means respectfully and reasonably informing people in the family where you are and what you are doing so they can grow trust and not worry.
Apologize
When you make a mistake or overstep, quickly apologize, then ask for (and receive) forgiveness.
Allow Reasonable Expression of Emotions
Expressions of unhappiness or hurt can be accepted and responded to with respect.
Gentle on Teasing and Sarcasm
Don’t use either as a poorly masked put down.
Allows People to Change and Grow
A functional family lets people define themselves—and change those definitions. No “labelling”.
Parenting is Co-Parenting
Parents, divorced or married, support the same standards and messages so children experience consistency.
Courtesy
Liberally use ‘please’ or ‘thank you’, ‘you’re welcome’ or ‘I’m sorry’.
Teamwork
Functional families play, work and problem solve together.
Eat Meals Together
Research shows that communication within a family is enhanced if we take more meals together.
Follow The Golden Rule
“Treat each other as we wish to be treated.” It was true way back when and it’s still true now.