How to create a strong family

“It is the responsibility and blessing of each of us to strengthen our families and homes. Each of us is in a different family situation. Some families have a mother and father with children at home. Some couples no longer have children at home. Many members are single and some are single parents. Others are widows or widowers living alone. No matter what our family looks like, each of us can work to strengthen our own families or help in strengthening others.”

That was the message during the LDS General Conference this weekend from Sister Barbara Thompson, second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. Whether you’re LDS or not, I think all parents can agree they want their families to be strong and tight-knit.

So how do we do this besides just crossing our fingers and hoping that our kids will still trust us when they’re teenagers and still want to be our friends when they are adults?

Thompson suggested the typical church answers, such as holding Family Home Evenings, reading scriptures together and saying family prayers. While I think all those things can really seal a family together, I’d love to hear some other tips on how to ensure your family stays close and strong.

Growing up, my family always had a quasi-Family Home Evening/game night where we would play poker and order Chinese food. It wasn’t your standard Mormon FHE, but hey, we did sometimes start by singing “Give said the little stream.”

I cherish those memories with my family and believe it helped keep us close and the lines of communication open.

What are some tips from your family growing up or things you do now to strengthen family bonds?