Does anyone have any advice on how to keep a family going in today's world?

Question

How can i get everyone talking again and eating and praying and sleeping together?

Answer 1

Excuse me? This after you just posted that you were in love with a married woman and wanted to know what to do about her husband?

Can we say hypocrit boys and girls?

Answer 2

I'm ignoring the "sleeping together" reference.
Have Family Home Evening. FHE is the practice where one night each week (typically Monday) everyone is home. No sports, going out, or everyone in a different room. Instead dinner is made and everyone eats at the table. After cleaning up (together?) the FHE starts. Typically in the living room/family room, but where ever all can be together and comfortable. A prayer is offered by one person, a lesson is given by another person (for the first few times it might be easier if the adults give the lesson, but eventually everyone should be given the opportunity, even the 4 year old), after the lesson, refreshments can be served (kind of like dessert), don't forget to close with a prayer (can be combined with a prayer over the refreshments). The lessons can really be anything, but are usually centered on 1. a religious topic 2. family preparedness 3. community service. Also, not all FHE's need to be held in the home, a nature walk, or occasional family outing to a sporting event, movie, or other wholesome activity is also appropriate. Caroling at Christmastime, visiting a Nursing Home is always good too. Family preparedness topics might include What to do in case of an emergancy or disaster, Family Finances 101, How to use a fire extinguisher, taking a CPR class, etc. An important thing to remember is that everyone (unless you have a really large family) should have something to do/be responsible for during the FHE, and those things should circulate so that no one person is "in charge" of any one thing all the time. Of course for the little ones the person of their choice can help with the lesson or the refreshments, but you'll be surprised how much they can do once they understand what is required. I'll include a couple of websites that have sample FHE lessons. Family Home Evening originated with the Mormons but any family can take the principles and apply them to their own family. Google Family Home Evening for others. This really does help promote family unity, and helps a family draw closer together. It's usually held weekly.

Answer 3

We always had bible reading and prayer at the breakfast table every day before school. The dinner table was when we told about our day. How old are the kids? If they are teenagers its hard to get everyone together every day. Might have to settle for 1 day a week that is family time. No excuses. Everybody be there. Like in middle of the week. If they are little kids why not keep the bible on the dining room table. When all are thru eating start your devotion time.
There are books you can use for daily guides that are targeted at different ages. A bible verse is chosen to tie in with it. Then let everyone say a prayer. We used to close our prayers by saying the Lords Prayer. All of this only takes about 15-30 minutes. Not much time to make such a world of difference. We used to keep a list of our prayer requests. We even wrote down the date it was answered. Sometimes we had to put down that God said no or had not answered yet. Its really something to look at a list you have asked of God and see how He has answered our prayers. Good luck to you and your family. m

Answer 4

Call a family meeting, and require that everyone be there. Discuss the issues that bother you. During the meeting, make sure that everyone gets to speak his or her mind, no matter if it makes other family members angry. Encourage "I" statments, such as:

I feel that...
I wish we could...
I don't like it when...

and so on. These discourage blaming statments like "You always come home late!" and surprisingly, even if you are saying basically the same thing, an "I" statement usually sounds better to the other person.

During the meeting, if someone gets too angry, have them leave the room to cool off for a few minutes. Try to reach some decisions about what your family will do in the future ("we will eat dinner together at least 3 times a week" "Susie will try to come home earlier, but if she is going to be late she will call" and so on). Consider having more than one family meeting, and perhaps setting up a weekly meeting to talk to each other about the week.

Because you mentioned praying, I assume you have a faith community. You should talk to the leader (pastor / preist / rabbi / whomever) about your family too. Many faith leaders are also trained in traditional counseling, or in religious counseling.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Create a special family time, when no one is distracted by TV, electronics, and other modern conveniences. Try to enjoy outdoors together. Play challenging, fun card or board games in groups. This will encourage family members to interact with one another. To make a family dinner more enjoyable, discuss at the table more light topics that would not disrupt everyone's happy mood. Serious topics should be set aside as much as possible.

Answer 6

families take hard work these days to keep together..... but take it slow and easy and use good judgment in all matters....do not use the pressure tactic on them..... start out with a small thing, or simple i should say.... ask that 1 nite a wk. a family meal be eatin together, something simple and easy...... PIZZA !! set a time and place, kitchen 6:30 or something like that..... if they are NOT there, they don't eat.....then make it 2 nites a wk, and make sure you have a great topic to talk about, your idea, your responsibility to make it fun and stuff...... make 1 nite a game nite or exercise together, exercising will make ppl tired and helps sleep patterns, I started pumping iron , and my sleeping is improving greatly !!!! make the family health a priority, study up, find ways to make a family thing of it... eat healthy,etc.... ask everyone to write down their own ideas and suggestions, menus etc....... make every one a part of the plan !!!!!! God bless

Answer 7

You said the main word Pray. A family that prays together stays together

Answer 8

There is a great book out there called "Marriage on the Rock" by Jimmy Evans. It discusses things an individual can do to help refocus a marriage and family. It is all bible based. If you are a member of a church you can also seek the advice of the pastor, many of them have lots of experience counseling families.

Personally, my husband and I keep things going through trust. We both choose to trust that the other is putting in 100% of their effort even when it seems that they aren't. It is hard but it really diffuses a lot of situations where one starts to put yourself first. Nothing seems to get the other person back on track like going up to them and asking what you can do to help them.

Answer 9

A family prays together stays together.

Answer 10

the fam sleeping together isnt a pretty sight, but ....start with food, people have to eat. start a dinner the same time every night and one by one talk about your day. good luck and take it further from there.

Answer 11

To Answer your question (and to piggy back on BH's answer): for starters, on of the best ways to keep a family going is to not bust one up - that's asking to have your karma jacked up.