| A wise elderly man once gave me important
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| | fought and we only remembered one or two
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| advice: family relationships between
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| | times that they even had different
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| siblings begin with the parents.
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| | opinions on things that went on in the
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| Let me explain. I grew up in New England
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| | house. A few hours later an old friend of
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| with four siblings. Today this family of
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| | mine who lived in my house for a few
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| five, are all married, have children and
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| | years while in high school (his parents
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| even grandchildren and are spread over
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| | moved abroad) came by to offer his
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| three continents; two stayed in North
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| | condolences. We asked him the same
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| America, I and one sister live in the
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| | question and he laughed and answered, "I
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| Middle East, and my baby sister lives in
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| | don't remember any time, but I'm sure
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| South Africa. Despite our geographical
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| | they did. How can a married couple not
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| distances we all keep in touch. We all
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| | argue with each other?!"
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| know what is doing with each other's
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| | This is the reason that me and my
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| children and grandchildren (and there are
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| | siblings are so close despite our
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| a lot of them!) and we frequently speak
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| | geographical distance and age
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| to each other on the phone. We also
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| | differences. My parents were such role
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| attend our nieces and nephews weddings
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| | models for closeness that, almost like
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| when it is possible. (International
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| | osmosis, we learnt to became close.
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| flights are not cheap!)
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| | Here are a few tips on how to get the
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| I used to wonder how did we become so
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| | message of family closeness to your
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| close ? We weren't particularly nice to
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| | children:
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| each other when we were growing up; we
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| | 1. Never discuss "heated" family issues
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| were just average kids who fight and
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| | in front of children. Discuss the issues
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| bicker. And more than this, my youngest
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| | when they are not around and present only
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| sister is twelve years younger than my
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| | your joint conclusion to them.
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| older brother and they didn't really even
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| | 2. Never make fun of your spouse, even
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| grow up with each other, and they are
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| | jokingly, when the children are around
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| also very close! How did this closeness
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| | 3. Show how you are concerned for your
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| happen?
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| | spouse in front of the children.
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| I discovered the answer in January 2001
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| | Imagine for a minute how never arguing or
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| right after my father passed away. We
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| | disagreeing with your spouse in front of
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| were sitting in my mother's house
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| | the children will affect your children
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| reminiscing old times and someone asked
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| | and empower them to be close with one
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| if anyone ever saw Daddy and Mommy
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| | and other, their spouses, and their
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| fighting or arguing with each other.
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| | children for years and years to come.
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| None of us remembered any time that they
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