What Are Family Values

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What are Family Values? What exactly makes up a family that possesses good strong family values? A strong family unit creates a safe, positive and supportive place for all members to thrive. A family should support and nourish each member of the family without prejudice or judgment, while utilizing their resources and living together happily in a family manner. The adults in a strong family set the tone. They are good role models that lead by example. They reach out to friends and community and teach their children the importance of doing the same. These skills and values become a part of who the children are. They learn to work together to solve problems, and they pass their skills on to the next generation. Some of the more important elements of a strong family system are communication, flexibility, and unity. Have you ever heard the saying, “What we have here is a failure to communicate?” A lack of communication can rip a family apart and destroy them. Things that facilitate communication are, family closeness, flexibility, and time spent together. All members must feel a freedom within the group to express themselves freely. Open and honest communication creates an atmosphere that allows family members to express their differences as well as love and admiration for one another. It is through communication that family members are able to resolve the unavoidable problems that arise in all families. There must be flexibility within the structure of the family unit. If the family lacks a solid foundation it will become chaotic, and will not be a peaceful setting for a family. However, if the structure of the family unit lacks flexibility, the family can become rigid and the authority figures may become resented. We could compare a successful family to a democracy. There are leaders, but the whole group is involved in the decision making process. Although
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