4 Simple Ways to Strengthen Family Ties

Traditions are the building blocks that strengthen family ties. They are the glue that holds families together. Kids, as well as adults, love and cling to family traditions because they are predictable and stable in an unpredictable world. There is comfort in looking forward to something that we enjoyed before and we know we will enjoy again. At the end of our lives we are most comforted by the love that we shared with those that are a part of that special family unit. It is truly the most beautiful, unconditional love you can be blessed with. Cherish and nurture it today, don’t wait..

Four Ways to Cherish Family

Create a sense of belonging.A wonderful way to start is by making family a priority. Just because you live in a house together and pass each other on the way in and out, doesn’t mean you are connecting. Schedule time to do things as a family, and protect that time by turning off the TV and turning on the answering machine.

Stay in touch with family and friends far away. With families spread out over great distances, and our busy schedules, it’s becoming more difficult to stay connected to people we love. Those who make family a priority, find ways to stay close. They don’t allow distance and time to erode their bond. Send tidbits of daily life off to cousins or grandparents in a Love-By-The-Month envelope, and call your favorite aunt and get the whole family to sing her Happy Birthday on that special day.

Establish traditions your family will treasure. So many of our favorite childhood memories revolve around the family holidays and vacations that were repeated over and over again. Good smells, good feelings, good times…reading by flashlight on summer camping trips, sleeping under the newly decorated Christmas tree, Aunt Rose’s pecan pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Traditions create the memories that connect us to each other.

Preserve cherished family keepsakes. Holding onto things that belonged to our loved ones, whether they have passed away or merely grown up seems to be instinctive. Saving items that represent a part of their life or a glimpse of their personality helps us keep alive the precious memories of the time we spent together.