Practical Parenting Ideas

You’ve got your crust!

Kenneth Flanagan, Ph.D., a therapist at Pontifical Josephinum College and Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, helps families regain their balance. He talks about the stresses caused by a more demanding work environment, increased expectations we put on emotional relationships, and a lack of role models and social supports. He says once people realize the challenges they face are different from the ones their parents knew, they get creative in how to respond. One help is the pie chart.

Participants in his "Balancing Act" program (sponsored by the Family Life office of the Diocese of Columbus) try to assess how they divvy up their time between work, family, marriage, parish, and so on. "What I tell them," says Flanagan, "is that their marriage is the crust. It’s what holds their life all together. And when it comes to planning the contents of the pie, they need to ask, Will this decision help or hinder our relationship as a couple or as a family?"

How often do you examine the choices you make in terms of how they will affect your family closeness, your sense of community, and even fun? Think about that while eating your Christmas pie.

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