what makes a family happy essay

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Example Of Essay On What Makes A Family Happy

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Communication , Family , Life , Love , Dreams , Happiness , Future , Time

Published: 03/05/2020

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Happy family relationship means a lot of work, with preserve and maintaining them being extremely difficult. For this to happen, both partners should make an effort to make life together joyful. So, what are the secrets of a happy family? There are definitely some that will help your family stay strong, and friendly for long time, if not forever. One of the main secrets for happy family is a skill to communicate with each other. In order to keep both family members happy you pretty much need communicate with each other, without which various problems and accidents will be unavoidable. Happy families usually talk about everything: intimate relationships, relationships with parents, worry about financial situation, discuss their future plans. Spouses who got married not basing on love tend to talk superficially, mainly at the level of everyday objects, usually about domestic responsibilities, gossip about other people, etc. In such families everyone has its own plans and dreams, interests and passions, which later become a great problem to overcome. In happy families partners trust each other, share things that are sometimes painful to tell, that do not always make them happy, but they are always ready to discuss problems and think about the solution together. Unacceptable behavior can be easily forgiven in a happy family, where in families without trust and understanding forgiveness and apologies are not common, or accepted. Often remembered partner mistakes stay memorized for many years, even decades, destroying a couple from the inside, so stop to remember each other’s offenses, and just think of all the good things that you had, and then count those aloud. So what needs to be done in order to build a happy family? For a starter try to communicate for even for 5-10 minutes, more, if it is possible. And what I mean by communication is not talking about your neighbors’ affairs, your relatives, or acquaintances. Simply do not discuss your everyday problems, instead tell your partner what you like, what you want, or what you would want to accomplish in the near future. If you are afraid that your partner will not understand or will have a critical attitude towards your dreams, you can always talk about him. Tell him all the nice things that you find in him, tell him that you respect him for those features, and appreciate all the pleasant things that he brings into your family life. Also pay attention to the quality of communication, and what I mean by that is the continuity of time for communication and concentration on each other. This criterion I connect to the numerical criterion, as if there is no specific amount of time spent together, no quality dialogue can be reached. Therefore, if you talk while one is cooking dinner, with the other preparing for tomorrow's work no quality communication can be established. But if these two criteria are met, the family will become much happier. Some people tell communication problems with their partners stating that after discussing the same issue for 100 times nothing changes. For this to change to you have to talk a lot and qualitatively; everything can be changes, if you take long enough to discuss a particular aspect of your life. It is important that each family member treats others as equals, takes into account their opinions, which is an important aspect of true, and friendly relations. Such components make family psychologically healthy and strong. Happy families tend to differ in the distribution of responsibilities, a point that should be from the very beginning. If a family has an equal distribution of household responsibilities, this only stands for the harmony in it. Trust is an important component of happiness and well-being. Decide once and for all whether you trust your partner or not. And what would the situation did not occur in the future, your choice should be inviolable. All doubts about a loved one should be immediately cast aside. Remember, trust or have, or have no family. Live in trust easily and safely. Do not forget about small courtesies: coffee in bed, just like a bunch of flowers, chocolate, laid sneak into your favorite handbag. They may cost you almost nothing, but deliver a lot of positive emotions. If you believe Dale Carnegie, Henry James stated: "The first thing you need to learn in a relation with other people is that you cannot interfere with their wished happiness, unless it does not prevent us from being happy in a way, as we want." You do not need to adjust a person for your needs; you should love him for his being. So communicate, discuss problems, offer solutions, talk about the future, about your dreams and mention your appreciate for each other, and your family will be much happier and more prosperous.

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Defining Characteristics of a Healthy Family Essay

A healthy family is a family where its every member is happy and lives in harmony with its other members. Being a happy family requires great efforts on the side of its members. The main characteristic of a healthy family is the deep commitment to each other. There are a lot of obstacles that can set families apart, for instance, disagreements, problematic children, domestic stress, money issues, and so on. However, when such situations happen, in order to stay a happy family, instead of losing control and falling into despair, all members of the family must stay strong and support each other (Gladding, 2015).

An unhealthy family is a family where at least one of its members is unhappy, as this member always influences the whole family. One of the main characteristics of an unhealthy family is the presence of never-ending conflicts that appear from nowhere and are being resolved for a long time. Misunderstandings are normal in the family life. However, the family members must communicate with each other, respect each other’s opinions, learn to make compromises, and do not hold grudges against each other (Gladding 2015).

The given family is considered an unhealthy family, as one of its members is unhappy and causes problems to other members of the family. In this case, it is a teenage boy. Although it is quite a natural situation, as teenagers are often difficult to handle, I should give the recommendations to the parents to prevent the deterioration of the situation. First, the parents should establish an effective communication with their boy, as the teenagers and their parents often misunderstand each other. The parents should remain calm in a conversation with their boy. They should express empathy, support, and a little humor to show their understanding of their boy’s problems. Then, they should make some kind of an agreement where they make some compromises and give some freedom to their boy, and in return, the boy must respect and follow the family’s rules. It is crucial to make the boy understand that if he violates these rules, continues being aggressive towards his mother, breaking the curfew, and doing poorly at school, he will receive a fair punishment (Novik & Podgórecki, 2015).

Gladding, S. T. (2015). The professional counselor’s desk reference (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Novik, N. N., Podgórecki, J. (2015). A model of developing communication skills among adolescents with behavioral problems. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 10 (4), 579-587.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 31). Defining Characteristics of a Healthy Family. https://ivypanda.com/essays/defining-characteristics-of-a-healthy-family/

"Defining Characteristics of a Healthy Family." IvyPanda , 31 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/defining-characteristics-of-a-healthy-family/.

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IvyPanda . 2023. "Defining Characteristics of a Healthy Family." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/defining-characteristics-of-a-healthy-family/.

1. IvyPanda . "Defining Characteristics of a Healthy Family." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/defining-characteristics-of-a-healthy-family/.

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IvyPanda . "Defining Characteristics of a Healthy Family." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/defining-characteristics-of-a-healthy-family/.

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Please explain: What makes a happy family?

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. This opening sentence of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, is one of the most famous lines in literature. But in what ways are happy families alike?

Role models: The family from the hit Australian movie The Castle provides many good examples of family members having positive expectations of each other, says Dr Fitness.

A happy, well-functioning family has many common features, but a lack of conflict isn’t one of them. All family members will sometimes rub each other the wrong way, argue with one another and hurt each other’s feelings, sometimes seriously. But the features common to happy families are security, trust, and tolerance; gratitude and pride in one another; and the enjoyment that comes from being playful with one another.

There has been a lot of longitudinal research demonstrating that the strength of the bonds within the marital relationship and between parents and children is what affords people resilience when times are tough. Whether that’s lockdown right now, or fire, floods, unemployment, crime, mental illness; we are all going to have to deal with challenges and heartaches as we go through our lives.

However, children who have been brought up in secure, warm, emotionally responsive environments build a capacity to trust others, and to be comfortable both with providing and accepting support in their adult lives. This helps them to cope with life’s challenges, and to help others cope with them too.

The role of emotional intelligence

I have argued that over time, successful marriages acquire a character of their own that may be described as “emotionally intelligent”.

Share the love: A married couple who achieves happiness needs to open up that emotional world to their children as well.

The emotional intelligence literature suggests that individuals may be more or less “intelligent” with respect to four, interrelated abilities: the ability to accurately perceive and express emotions; the ability to draw upon one’s own emotions to imagine how others are feeling and to empathise with them; the ability to understand what causes different emotions and what their outcomes might be like; and the ability to effectively manage one’s own and others’ emotions. A growing body of research attests to the crucial role played by each of these abilities in promoting marital stability and happiness.

A married couple who achieves this happiness needs to open up that emotional world – extend that bubble of joy and affection and empathy – to their children as well. Emotions are the key to understanding other people’s needs, whether it’s a baby crying in hunger, a toddler screaming in frustration, or a partner hurt by a brutal criticism.

In families where emotions are shut down, misunderstood, dismissed or punished, needs are likely not being understood or met. It is our openness to respond to each other’s emotions, without being overwhelmed but with genuine empathy, that builds trusting relationships where people can be vulnerable to each other without fear of rejection.

The important thing for family harmony is not the emotion, it’s how you deal with it. This means not punishing your partner or your child for having an emotion.

This may mean taking a step back, rather than lashing out, when a family member’s anger is being directed at you. The impulse to be defensive when someone, especially a teenager, is hurling abuse for something you have done or neglected to do, is pretty natural. Anger is an important emotional response that is telling us hey, that’s not fair, that’s not right, you shouldn’t treat me this way.

The important thing for family harmony is not the emotion, it’s how you deal with it. This means not punishing your partner or your child for having an emotion – although you might want to encourage them to express it in a less hostile way – but rather, it’s about seeing it as an opportunity to get at what is going on for this person: what are they needing, what is happening for them? And in doing that you are expressing empathy and caring, a much more constructive response than angry reciprocation.

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Being emotionally intelligent also means looking beyond a family member’s rage and hostility and responding to the more vulnerable emotions that may lie underneath, such as fear, hurt, and sadness.

Research also shows the importance of frequently expressing positive emotions like love, admiration, and gratitude in family relationships. Typically, happy families create what has been called a culture of appreciation, where family members have positive expectations of each other and are ready to give one another the benefit of the doubt when things go wrong (the Australian movie The Castle provides many good examples of this).

The virtue of positive expectations is that expecting the good, and being ready to perceive the good and reward it whenever you see it, encourages people to behave better. But, your expectations shouldn’t be so unrealistic that nobody can live up to them either!

One is not enough

Do both partners in a marriage need to be emotionally intelligent to create a happy partnership? Interesting research published in 2005 found that relationships can thrive with just one partner being highly emotionally aware and empathic, though it may involve a lot of work for that partner.

Traditionally, the stereotype has been that wives and mothers have done the bulk of “emotion work” in families ­– mediating between children and fathers, organising everyone’s social lives, being empathic and soothing, and generally taking care of family members’ emotional needs. Research has shown that women have typically taken on this emotional role in families throughout history and across many cultures.

Research also shows the importance of frequently expressing positive emotions like love, admiration, and gratitude in family relationships.

However, while that may have worked in the past to facilitate the happiness of other family members, the costs for women of undertaking so much emotion labour have often been high. Today, we’re seeing much more encouragement for men to pick up their share of that emotion work, and to develop their own empathy and emotional responsiveness within the family.

This sharing of the emotion work also provides a healthy model for children, who grow up as emotionally intelligent adults with the capacity to create their own happy families.

The damage done

It is difficult to develop emotional competence as an adult if you have grown up in a household where there is a lot of hostility, anger, shaming, and contempt; or just as importantly, where there has been a lack of positivity in an indifferent environment where not much emotion, or love, is expressed at all.

In it together: Julie Fitness (pictured) says the sharing of emotion work between partners provides a healthy model for children.

Children growing up in these environments form dysfunctional beliefs about themselves, their feelings, and relationships with others. Then in adulthood, they may look for partners who reinforce the messages that are so strongly embedded inside their heads; that people can’t be trusted, that I’m a bad person, that I deserve bad treatment, that I need to hide my feelings, and that the world is a frightening place where no one really loves me. If that is our internal script, we tend to look for partners who confirm our worst fears about one another, and about ourselves.

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But people can change their scripts if they are willing to reflect upon, challenge and change these beliefs. In fact, it is quite possible for two people with very painful backgrounds to come together and to have enough motivation, insight, and support, to consciously create a different kind of family for themselves.

It’s important to remember that happy families are not just ‘made that way’; they are created through the ongoing love, commitment, and goodwill of family members.

Julie Fitness is Emeritus Professor  in the Department of Psychology at Macquarie University.

Recommended Reading

Essay about Family: What It Is and How to Nail It

Humans naturally seek belonging within families, finding comfort in knowing someone always cares. Yet, families can also stir up insecurities and mental health struggles.

Family dynamics continue to intrigue researchers across different fields. Every year, new studies explore how these relationships shape our minds and emotions.

In this article, our dissertation service will guide you through writing a family essay. You can also dive into our list of topics for inspiration and explore some standout examples to spark your creativity.

What is Family Essay

A family essay takes a close look at the bonds and experiences within families. It's a common academic assignment, especially in subjects like sociology, psychology, and literature.

So, what's involved exactly? Simply put, it's an exploration of what family signifies to you. You might reflect on cherished family memories or contemplate the portrayal of families in various media.

What sets a family essay apart is its personal touch. It allows you to express your own thoughts and experiences. Moreover, it's versatile – you can analyze family dynamics, reminisce about family customs, or explore other facets of familial life.

If you're feeling uncertain about how to write an essay about family, don't worry; you can explore different perspectives and select topics that resonate with various aspects of family life.

Tips For Writing An Essay On Family Topics

A family essay typically follows a free-form style, unless specified otherwise, and adheres to the classic 5-paragraph structure. As you jot down your thoughts, aim to infuse your essay with inspiration and the essence of creative writing, unless your family essay topics lean towards complexity or science.

Here are some easy-to-follow tips from our essay service experts:

• Focus on a Specific Aspect: Instead of a broad overview, delve into a specific angle that piques your interest, such as exploring how birth order influences sibling dynamics or examining the evolving role of grandparents in modern families.
• Share Personal Anecdotes: Start your family essay introduction with a personal touch by sharing stories from your own experiences. Whether it's about a favorite tradition, a special trip, or a tough time, these stories make your writing more interesting.
• Use Real-life Examples: Illustrate your points with concrete examples or anecdotes. Draw from sources like movies, books, historical events, or personal interviews to bring your ideas to life.
• Explore Cultural Diversity: Consider the diverse array of family structures across different cultures. Compare traditional values, extended family systems, or the unique hurdles faced by multicultural families.
• Take a Stance: Engage with contentious topics such as homeschooling, reproductive technologies, or governmental policies impacting families. Ensure your arguments are supported by solid evidence.
• Delve into Psychology: Explore the psychological underpinnings of family dynamics, touching on concepts like attachment theory, childhood trauma, or patterns of dysfunction within families.
• Emphasize Positivity: Share uplifting stories of families overcoming adversity or discuss strategies for nurturing strong, supportive family bonds.
• Offer Practical Solutions: Wrap up your essay by proposing actionable solutions to common family challenges, such as fostering better communication, achieving work-life balance, or advocating for family-friendly policies.

Family Essay Topics

When it comes to writing, essay topics about family are often considered easier because we're intimately familiar with our own families. The more you understand about your family dynamics, traditions, and experiences, the clearer your ideas become.

If you're feeling uninspired or unsure of where to start, don't worry! Below, we have compiled a list of good family essay topics to help get your creative juices flowing. Whether you're assigned this type of essay or simply want to explore the topic, these suggestions from our history essay writer are tailored to spark your imagination and prompt meaningful reflection on different aspects of family life.

So, take a moment to peruse the list. Choose the essay topics about family that resonate most with you. Then, dive in and start exploring your family's stories, traditions, and connections through your writing.

• Supporting Family Through Tough Times
• Staying Connected with Relatives
• Empathy and Compassion in Family Life
• Strengthening Bonds Through Family Gatherings
• Quality Time with Family: How Vital Is It?
• Navigating Family Relationships Across Generations
• Learning Kindness and Generosity in a Large Family
• Communication in Healthy Family Dynamics
• Forgiveness in Family Conflict Resolution
• Building Trust Among Extended Family
• Defining Family in Today's World
• Understanding Nuclear Family: Various Views and Cultural Differences
• Understanding Family Dynamics: Relationships Within the Family Unit
• What Defines a Family Member?
• Modernizing the Nuclear Family Concept
• Exploring Shared Beliefs Among Family Members
• Evolution of the Concept of Family Love Over Time
• Examining Family Expectations
• Modern Standards and the Idea of an Ideal Family
• Life Experiences and Perceptions of Family Life
• Genetics and Extended Family Connections
• Utilizing Family Trees for Ancestral Links
• The Role of Younger Siblings in Family Dynamics
• Tracing Family History Through Oral Tradition and Genealogy
• Tracing Family Values Through Your Family Tree
• Exploring Your Elder Sister's Legacy in the Family Tree
• Connecting Daily Habits to Family History
• Documenting and Preserving Your Family's Legacy
• Navigating Online Records and DNA Testing for Family History
• Tradition as a Tool for Family Resilience
• Involving Family in Daily Life to Maintain Traditions
• Creating New Traditions for a Small Family
• The Role of Traditions in Family Happiness
• Family Recipes and Bonding at House Parties
• Quality Time: The Secret Tradition for Family Happiness
• The Joy of Cousins Visiting for Christmas
• Including Family in Birthday Celebrations
• Balancing Traditions and Unconditional Love
• Building Family Bonds Through Traditions

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Family Essay Example

For a better grasp of the essay on family, our team of skilled writers has crafted a great example. It looks into the subject matter, allowing you to explore and understand the intricacies involved in creating compelling family essays. So, check out our meticulously crafted sample to discover how to craft essays that are not only well-written but also thought-provoking and impactful.

Final Outlook

In wrapping up, let's remember: a family essay gives students a chance to showcase their academic skills and creativity by sharing personal stories. However, it's important to stick to academic standards when writing about these topics. We hope our list of topics sparked your creativity and got you on your way to a reflective journey. And if you hit a rough patch, you can just ask us to ' do my essay for me ' for top-notch results!

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FAQs on Writing an Essay about Family

Family essays seem like something school children could be assigned at elementary schools, but family is no less important than climate change for our society today, and therefore it is one of the most central research themes.

Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions on family-related topics. Before you conduct research, scroll through them and find out how to write an essay about your family.

How to Write an Essay About Your Family History?

How to write an essay about a family member, how to write an essay about family and roots, how to write an essay about the importance of family, related articles.

• Essay Editor

How Should I Go About Writing My Family Essay?: Examples and Tips

Family is an integral part of every individual's life. Delving into the intricate layers of family relationships and dynamics can yield a captivating essay. Here's a comprehensive guide with examples and tips to guide you through the process.

What Topics Should I Write About for My Family Essay?

Choosing the right topic is essential. Here are some suggestions:

Writing a Family Tree Dive into your roots! A family tree can be more than names and dates; it can narrate stories of ancestors, their challenges, achievements, and legacies. For instance, "When I looked into our family tree, I discovered that my great-grandfather was a sailor who traveled the world and had countless tales of adventures, some of which have become legendary bedtime stories in our family."

Describing My Family in My Essay Discuss each family member in detail. "My sister, with her fiery red hair and matching temper, is the exact opposite of my calm and analytical brother. Yet, when they come together, they create the most amazing music, with him on the piano and her singing."

Writing About a Personal Memory Share a poignant memory. "I remember the time when our cat, Whiskers, went missing. The entire family turned detectives overnight, searching for clues, putting up posters, and even setting up a 'cat trap' with her favorite treats. The adventure ended with Whiskers found sleeping peacefully in the neighbor's shed, unaware of the chaos she had caused."

Dos and Don’ts When Writing a Family Stories Essay

• Be authentic.
• Use vivid descriptions and dialogues.
• Respect privacy; ask permission if sharing personal details.
• Avoid making generalizations.
• Refrain from being overly negative or critical.
• Don't plagiarize; every family's story is unique.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a good hook for an essay on my family? As Tolstoy once said, 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' Our family, though, has found its unique shade of happiness.
• What should I include in an essay about me and my family? Descriptions of family members, memories, traditions, challenges, and lessons.
• How should I start an essay all about my family? Every time I think of the word 'home,' an image of our old cottage, Sunday dinners, and loud family debates comes to mind.
• How long should my essay about my family be? Length depends on the requirement; academic essays typically range from 500-1000 words, while personal essays can vary.
• How do I make my family essay engaging? Incorporate stories, memories, and emotions.
• Is it okay to discuss family challenges in my essay? Yes, but be sensitive and respectful.
• Can I add humor to my family essay? Yes, as long as it's in good taste.

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What Makes a Happy Family?

How psychology overcame bias in child custody disputes..

Posted September 29, 2020

The need for more diverse representation in the profession of psychology has been recognized for many years. Over recent months, this need has come to dominate discussions, questions and debates within the field. On the stark black cover of the September issue of The Psychologist, the following words from the British Psychological Society’s chief executive are written in white, “We are institutionally racist.” Many of the issue's articles discuss the problem, express regret, and seek a way forward. This is part of what one HR director, in another field, described as a “race crisis,” where businesses and organizations are demanding of themselves, “Why haven’t we done better?”

In this piece, I step aside from the current necessary discussion about what has not yet been achieved to focus on previous successes this profession has had in countering bias . A new account of psychology’s role in challenging bias about “good families”[1] provides an opportunity to do just that.

The course of this challenge, as Professor Susan Golombok, a key player in this process shows, was neither smooth nor rapid. In one custody case (Nadler v. Nadler) heard in the Superior Court of California in 1967, the judge wrote, “The homosexuality of the plaintiff as a matter of law constitutes her not fit or proper to have the care, custody and controls of … the minor child of the parties hereto.”

Nearly 10 years later, when Professor Golombok began what was to be her first of many studies of lesbian mother families, no lesbian mothers who fought for the custody of their children had won in court. There were generally three grounds for denying custody. A child of a lesbian mother, it was argued, would be bullied at school. A child of a lesbian mother would develop psychological problems. Children of a lesbian mother would be unsure whether they were boy or girl, and hence would behave inappropriately. Such speculation, framed as fact, was routinely supported by expert witnesses.

Such blatant, overt, and cruel bias, based on untested and unquestioned “evidence” about children’s wellbeing, seems unthinkable today. But as recently as 1995, a Florida Court awarded custody of an 11-year-old girl to a convicted murderer (he had killed his first wife during their custody dispute) in preference to the lesbian mother.

The overt bias in the courts was further enforced by implicit bias among Golombok’s colleagues. As a young Master’s student, she hoped to study the children of lesbian mothers, but none of her lecturers was willing to supervise this subject. The topic, she was advised, was either too controversial or it of no interest. By chance the eminent child psychiatrist Michael Rutter learned of Golombok’s research interest, and offered his support.

The research questions Golombok posed were: 1, Are lesbian mothers less capable as parents? 2, Are children of lesbian mothers more likely to experience emotional or behavioural problems, and 3, Are their sons less masculine and their girls less feminine? While the 3rdquestion itself was packed with bias about gender norms, and suggested that children who did not conform to typical gender behaviour suffered from a psychological disorder, the research was soon to shatter complacent assumptions about what a good enough mother had to be.

It is always more difficult to argue against bias than against fact. Golombok had to do far more than assess the children’s psychological adjustments and report her findings. The assessments required high-level training both to administer and analyse. She, along with her assistant, were video-recorded and given intensive feedback. It took several weeks of coaching to get approval from the Institute of Psychiatry to carry out the studies.

Few today would be surprised by what Golombok, now Director of the Center for Family Research at the University of Cambridge, found. Children of lesbian mothers, including those who lived with their female partner (a situation courts balked at, even if they did permit custody) were at least as well adjusted as children living with a father and a mother. They showed no increased risk of emotional problems. They performed as well at school. Finally, there was nothing to show that children were more likely to be confused about their gender or to prefer same- sex partners themselves.

Lawyers for fathers suing for custody were quick to exaggerate the limitations of Golombok’s studies. Every study has limitations, and these will matter more if the findings go against the “gut” beliefs of others. Objections were made to the relatively small sample size—though the “sample size” of those claiming the children would be harmed by living with a lesbian mother was zero. Objections were made that these did not include randomized control trials—yet some questions cannot be addressed by experimenting on families, nor do randomized control trials obliterate the significant issue in such research of multiple covariates.[2] One bizarre objection was that the mothers who participated in Golombok’s studies were all volunteers. The objections were only excuses not to revise bias. Fortunately, more and more courts were accepting Golombok’s evidence and granting custody to lesbian mothers, and without stipulating that they could not live with a female partner.

But biases maintain a stubborn grip. By the time the boys and girls Golombok had assessed were healthy adults, courts were still reluctant to allow lesbians to foster or to adopt children. Against the advice of her colleagues—who warned her that she would be unsuccessful, she applied for grants to fund follow up research on the grown up sons and daughters of lesbian mothers. Her persistence was rewarded, and her studies were funded. The results confirmed that lesbian mothers were as capable as other parents.

Gradually this research has eased the bias that so cruelly, over many years, separated mothers and children. Golombok’s research now extends to gay couples, to donor children and to children of trans men and women. It is the quality of relationships, not the conformity to gender or other social norms that determines the health of a family and the wellbeing of the children.

Here is one history of psychology’s battle against bias and the triumph of evidence. The story of this research shows that the process is long and never easy, but it should fill psychologists with pride in their profession, and strengthen the determination to use their skill to correct remaining biases.

1. Susan Golombok. (2020). We Are Family: what really matters for parents and children. London: Scribe

2. Angus Deaton and Nancy Cartwright.(2018). Understanding and Misunderstanding Randomized Controlled Trials. Social Science and Medicine. 210: 2-21.

Terri Apter, Ph.D., is a writer and psychologist specializing in family dynamics and adolescent development. Her new book, The Teen Interpreter, will be published in March 2022.

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What Qualities Contribute To A Happy Family?

Family can be one of the most important parts of our lives, providing us with support, affection, guidance, and love. For this reason, it can be vital to ensure you and your family members feel comfortable, cared for, and safe—in short, happy. A variety of factors can contribute to the happiness of a family, including financial stability, mental health, and communication. Understanding the common characteristics of a harmonious household can help you determine how best to help your family foster contentment. In this article, we’re discussing several of the qualities that can lead to happiness within a family. 

Common characteristics of happy families

As a parent, partner, or other relative, working to deepen bonds between your family members can lead to improvements in many areas of their lives (and yours). If you’re looking to foster familial happiness, there are several qualities that you may want to develop or strengthen. Below are several characteristics that are often present in happy families. 

Mental and physical wellness

Happiness and well-being —both physical and mental—are closely connected. When family members are healthy, they may be better able to interact in constructive ways, cope with stressors, and support one another. Fostering wellness can also help your family manage or avoid mental and physical health challenges. 

There are several ways you can help ensure your family members are caring for their well-being. You can encourage them to eat a balanced diet, maintain a regular sleep schedule, exercise, and tend to their personal hygiene. You could go for regular evening walks, write in your journals at the same time, or cook a healthful meal as a family a few times a week. 

Emotional health can also have close ties to overall wellness and a family’s goal of achieving happiness. A person's emotional well-being can affect their interpersonal interactions, physical health, and overall quality of life. Children who witness their parents cope with challenges in a productive manner are likely to follow suit as they learn, grow, and eventually venture into the world. 

One way of nurturing wellness in your family is through counseling. Therapy can also help families identify areas of concern, learn healthy communication, develop coping mechanisms, and more. You can pursue family therapy in a group setting, which allows you and your family members to work together to strengthen your relationships and learn how to function in constructive ways. Talking to a therapist can also help individual family members address mental health concerns like depression or anxiety. 

Healthy communication

Research shows that there is a  link between happiness and family functioning —and that a primary factor in family functioning is communication. Proper communication provides numerous benefits to a family, allowing parents to lay out expectations, children to express their feelings, and all family members to provide one another with support. 

As a parent, fostering discussion within your family can help you understand the challenges your children are facing. Your children may not know how to bring certain subjects up to you, so providing them with the opportunity to talk about what’s happening in their lives can be helpful. Try to create an environment in which communication is encouraged. You can let your children and significant other know that they can talk to you about anything. Consider setting aside time each week to have a family meeting, during which you can talk about family-related goals, concerns, etc.

Financial stability

While money isn’t the only thing to consider when it comes to happiness, it can be a useful tool as you work to build a content and well-adjusted family. An American Psychological Association survey found that 65% of individuals regard money as a cause of stress in their lives. The ability to pay for housing, bills, food, recreational activities (dining out, going to the movies, etc.), and other expenses can help family members feel stable.

Between partners, financial duress can create tension and even lead to negative physical health consequences . Planning ahead can help you avoid potential financial pitfalls that may affect your family’s happiness. This can give you an idea where you stand and help you determine what next steps to take. You can also instill financial responsibility in your children by discussing money with them at appropriate times. Financial stability and the ability to cover living expenses can be paramount when it comes to happiness in the family.

Quality time 

Even if family members are in close contact each day, they might not be interacting with one another in a meaningful, engaging manner. Spending quality time—during which family members are focusing primarily on each other—can help a family connect. It can allow them to talk about what’s happening in their lives, work through challenges they’re experiencing, plan for the future, and have fun together. 

Spending quality time with your family can lead to improved mental and physical well-being. For example,  that young people who eat dinner with their family are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors (e.g., eating a balanced diet, exercising) and less likely to experience adverse mental health outcomes (e.g., substance use, depressive symptoms). Dining with one’s family is also thought to impact academic performance and conduct. Consider setting aside certain nights during the week for family meals. 

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

In addition to eating together, there are numerous ways you can spend quality time with family members. Consider learning a new language or practicing an instrument together. Actively creating situations for you to interact with your family in a meaningful way can help you all feel closer.   

A proper level of regard amongst family members can be a critical, determining factor in happiness. Respect can be a key part of the relationship between significant others, parents and children, and other family members. Between partners, respect can mean communicating in a polite manner and being considerate of each other’s wants and needs. 

Parents can also teach their children how to behave respectfully. This can include speaking in a respectful manner, being honest, and trusting others. Teaching these values to children during their formative years can come in handy as they grow into teenagers. Young people who have been instilled with values are more likely to be able to resist adverse influences and make decisions that can attract both short-term and long-term benefits.

Positive influences

Modeling healthy behavior for your children can make it easier for them to adopt those same behaviors as they develop. Positive influences can contribute to the growth and success of children while negative external influences may engender the opposite outcome. Being a positive influence can mean exhibiting respectful behavior toward your significant other, talking through challenges with your family, and helping others when necessary. You can instill certain values in your kids by modeling behavior that represents those values. For example, you can show your children the benefits of a strong work ethic by getting things done around the house in a timely manner. Setting an example for your kids can not only set them up for success later in life, but also help your family interact in healthy ways. 

How online therapy can help

Studies show that online therapy can help families interact in healthy ways, cope with emotional challenges, and foster happiness. In a study published in the Journal of Family Psychology, participants reported decreases in family conflict and increases in “family warmth” following an online therapy program. The study also mentions that both parents and children experienced improvements in individual mental health symptoms, including those related to depression and stress. 

If you’re looking for helping cultivating happiness in your family, consider connecting with a licensed online therapist. With an online therapy platform like  BetterHelp , you can work through family challenges remotely, which can be convenient for families with busy schedules and varying locations. BetterHelp works with thousands of qualified professionals—including licensed marriage and family therapists—and will match you based on your areas of concern and preferences; so, you’ll have a good chance of working with someone who can address your specific family challenges. 

What contributes to a happy family?

A happy family is built on a foundation of love, trust, and strong interpersonal connections . Several factors contribute to a happy family:

• Open communication: Effective communication is essential for understanding each family member's needs, feelings, and concerns. Open dialogue fosters a sense of belonging and encourages the sharing of thoughts and emotions.
• Quality time together: Spending quality time as a family helps strengthen bonds and create positive memories. Shared experiences, such as family outings, game nights, or vacations, contribute to happiness.
• Supportive environment: A happy family is a supportive one. Family members should be there for one another during both good and challenging times, offering emotional support, encouragement, and understanding.
• Respect and trust: Respect for each other's opinions, boundaries, and individuality is crucial. Trust and mutual respect build a sense of security and emotional well-being within the family.
• Shared values and goals: Families often share common values, goals, and traditions that provide a sense of identity and purpose. These shared principles can create a strong sense of unity and happiness.
• Conflict resolution: Disagreements and conflicts are a natural part of any family. A happy family knows how to address and resolve conflicts in a healthy and respectful manner, leading to greater harmony.
• Unconditional love: Love is at the core of a happy family. Unconditional love provides a strong emotional foundation that allows family members to feel accepted and valued.
• Empathy and compassion: Practicing empathy and compassion within the family helps members better understand each other's emotions and perspectives, fostering closer relationships.

Why does praise by family members make you happy?

Praise from family members can have a profound impact on one's happiness for several reasons . Family serves as our earliest and most enduring source of emotional support and affirmation. When family members offer praise, it validates our worth and achievements, creating a sense of belonging and acceptance. This recognition from those who know us best reinforces our self-esteem, contributing to a positive self-image and overall well-being.

Family praise is often genuine and comes from a place of unconditional love and support. It is not tied to external factors like competition or personal gain, making it more authentic and heartfelt. When family members acknowledge our accomplishments and express pride or admiration, it enhances our feelings of personal value, leading to increased happiness and emotional security. In essence, family praise fosters a deep and lasting sense of happiness because it validates our identity and affirms our place within the family unit.

Whose family is a happy family and why?

A happy family can be anyone's family—regardless of their background, structure, or composition. Happy families are not defined by external factors but by the quality of their relationships, communication, and emotional connections. What makes a family happy is the presence of love, trust, open communication, shared values, and a supportive environment where each member can grow and thrive . Happy families come in diverse forms, but their strength lies in the bonds that tie them together, making them happy and harmonious units.

Why a happy family is the most important thing in the world?

A happy family is often considered one of the most important things in the world for several compelling reasons:

• Emotional well-being: A happy family may provide a sense of emotional security and support . It is a place where individuals can express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns without judgment, fostering mental and emotional well-being.
• Foundation for future relationships: Family may serve as the primary model for how individuals form and maintain relationships throughout their lives. Positive experiences within a happy family can shape one's ability to engage in healthy relationships with friends, romantic partners, and colleagues.
• Sense of belonging: A happy family can offer a deep sense of belonging and connection, which is essential for human happiness. Feeling connected to one's family members is associated with a greater sense of identity and self-worth.
• Support system: Family member may provide emotional, practical, and financial support during both good and challenging times. This support system can be critical in times of crisis, illness, or personal difficulties.
• Character development: Happy families may often instill values, ethics, and life lessons that guide individuals throughout their lives. These values help shape one's character, contributing to personal growth and the ability to contribute positively to society.
• Unconditional love: A happy family can offer unconditional love and acceptance. Knowing that you are loved and valued for who you are, without conditions or expectations, is a fundamental source of happiness.
• Stress reduction: A supportive and harmonious family environment can be a source of stress relief. Family members can offer comfort, advice, and empathy when facing life's challenges.

What is the value of a happy family?

The happy family can play a fundamental role in the well-being and development of individuals and society as a whole . Some of the key values associated with a happy family include:

• Emotional well-being: A happy family provides a strong foundation for the emotional well-being of its members. It offers a safe and nurturing environment where individuals can express themselves, talk about their feelings, and seek support during both joyous and challenging moments.
• Sense of belonging: A happy family fosters a deep sense of belonging, identity, and connection. This feeling of being part of a close-knit group that cares for one another is invaluable for an individual's self-esteem and emotional security.
• Support and resilience: Family members offer each other emotional, practical, and moral support, which enhances their ability to cope with life's difficulties and builds resilience. This support system is a source of strength in times of adversity.
• Life lessons and values: Families often serve as the primary source for instilling values, ethics, and life lessons. These teachings help shape an individual's character, moral compass, and decision-making, influencing their actions and contributions to society.
• Interpersonal skills: Interacting within a happy family environment helps individuals develop crucial interpersonal skills, such as communication, conflict resolution, empathy, and cooperation. These skills are essential for forming and maintaining positive relationships beyond the family unit.
• Happiness and well-being: A happy family promotes the happiness and well-being of its members. Positive family interactions contribute to emotional stability, reduced stress, and a higher quality of life.

Why are family values important in life?

Family values may be important in life because they provide a moral compass and a sense of identity, purpose, and belonging. These values serve as guiding principles that shape individuals' character, behavior, and decision-making . By instilling family values, individuals are more likely to develop empathy, respect, responsibility, and a strong work ethic. Family values create a stable and supportive environment, where individuals can form meaningful connections, build strong interpersonal relationships, and navigate life's challenges with resilience. These values are integral to preserving cultural heritage and traditions, fostering a sense of continuity, and contributing to a more ethical and harmonious society.

What is the value of family in your life?

Family plays a central role in shaping an individual's identity, well-being, and overall life experience. Here are some key aspects of the value of family:

• Emotional support: Family members provide a vital support system during both joyful and challenging times. They offer comfort, understanding, and a sense of belonging that contributes to emotional stability.
• Sense of belonging: Families create a strong sense of belonging and identity. Knowing that one is part of a close-knit group that cares for and supports them fosters self-esteem and emotional security.
• Unconditional love: Family members typically offer unconditional love and acceptance. This love serves as a foundation for an individual's self-worth and emotional well-being.
• Values and morals: Families often pass down important values, ethics, and morals, which shape an individual's character, decision-making, and behavior. These values serve as guiding principles in life.
• Life Lessons: Family provides a setting for learning essential life lessons, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving abilities. These skills are valuable for navigating personal and professional relationships.
• Cultural and traditions: Families play a significant role in preserving cultural traditions, customs, and values. They help ensure that cultural heritage is passed down to future generations.
• Safety and security: Family is a source of physical and emotional security. It offers a safe haven where individuals can express themselves, seek protection, and receive support.

How do you contribute to your family as a member?

Contributing to a family as a member involves various ways to strengthen the family unit and support the well-being of its members. Here are some valuable ways to contribute to your family:

• Emotional support: Offer a listening ear, empathy, and comfort to family members during times of joy, stress, or crisis. Your emotional support can help strengthen family bonds.
• Communication: Foster open and honest communication within the family. Encourage discussions about feelings, concerns, and important decisions, and be an active listener.
• Shared responsibilities: Contribute to the family's daily life by taking on responsibilities, such as household chores, caregiving, or financial management. A shared workload lightens the burden on other family members.
• Respect and consideration: Treat family members with respect and consideration. This includes recognizing personal boundaries, offering appreciation, and being mindful of each other's needs.
• Quality time: Spend quality time with family members through shared activities, outings, and gatherings. Building positive memories and connections may be essential for a strong family bond .
• Conflict resolution: Learn and practice effective conflict resolution skills. Address disagreements and conflicts in a respectful and constructive manner, working toward solutions and compromises.
• Supportive environment: Create an environment of support and encouragement, where each family member's goals and aspirations are valued and promoted.
• Financial responsibility: Contribute to financial stability by managing finances responsibly and making financial contributions, if applicable, to support the family's needs.

What is the main purpose of the family?

The main purpose of the family can vary across cultures and individuals, but it generally encompasses several key functions and roles. The primary purposes of the family include:

• Emotional support: Families provide emotional support and a sense of belonging to their members. They offer comfort, love, and understanding, creating a safe and nurturing environment for individuals to express their feelings and concerns.
• Socialization: Families play a critical role in socializing their members. They teach values, ethics, cultural norms, and acceptable behavior, which help individuals adapt and thrive in society.
• Education and development: Families are responsible for the educational and personal development of their members. Parents and caregivers impart knowledge, skills, and life lessons, fostering intellectual and emotional growth.
• Protection and safety: Families offer protection and safety. They provide a physical and emotional shelter, ensuring the well-being and security of their members.
• Cultural preservation: Families often preserve and pass down cultural traditions, customs, language, and heritage to future generations, ensuring cultural continuity.
• Economic support: Families may serve as an economic unit, where members pool resources and work together to meet their financial needs. Economic support can include financial assistance, caregiving, and shared responsibilities.
• Reproduction: Families are the primary unit for child-rearing and reproduction, ensuring the survival of the human species. They provide care, guidance, and nurturing for the next generation.
• Companionship: Families offer companionship and social interaction which means every member contributes to forming a happy family. They provide opportunities for individuals to form close bonds and build lifelong relationships with one another.
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How to build a happy family, creating strong children and cohesive families through the stories we tell..

This fall, my main squeeze and I are getting married. We’ve been dating for almost four years, and we’ve been engaged for so long people think we are dragging our (probably cold) feet. “What’s the hold up?” our friends ask. “Are you or aren’t you getting married?”

Our hesitation is about the children, of course. My guy lives with his two children in a different county from me and my two children. All four kids are happy in their schools and their communities—not to mention living near their other parents.

My children and I are not planning on moving to Marin; he and his children are not planning on moving to Berkeley. It’s a logistical puzzle with some unique pieces, but I believe at its center is a question nagging many of us today: How do we build a happy family?

That’s the question Bruce Feiler poses in his recent book, The Secrets of Happy Families , and in his wildly popular New York Times article , published earlier this spring.

It turns out that a large part of constructing a happy family is about creating a particular type of narrative about our family history, one that demonstrates that members of our family have been through both good and bad times together, but through it all we’ve stuck together. This is a way of modeling your family’s grit and growth mindset .

Researcher Marshall Duke calls this the “oscillating family narrative,” and he and his colleagues have found that that when kids internalize it, they emerge more confident, with an “ intergenerational [sense of] self .” That is a jargony way of saying that kids who know a lot about their family history—the parts that they didn’t experience themselves, but that were passed down to them through stories—feel that they are a part of something much larger than themselves.

When we give kids this sense of being part of something bigger than just themselves, they reap enormous emotional benefits, according to Duke and fellow researchers Amber Lazarus and Robyn Fivush, in a study made famous by Feiler. These benefits include:

-a greater sense of control over their lives; higher self-esteem; better family functioning; greater family cohesiveness; lower levels of anxiety; fewer behavior problems.

In fact, in Duke, Lazarus, and Fivush’s research, knowledge of family narrative was more strongly associated with children’s emotional well-being than any other factor.

It’s not that knowledge of your family history provides all those benefits in and of itself; the way to build a happy family is not necessarily to start giving kids family history lessons.  The researchers explain:

“If simply knowing family history could make for better states of well-being, some might propose (confusing correlation with causation) that we simply teach children various facts about their families and they will become stronger. Clearly, this approach would not work!”

Duke, Lazarus, and Fivush go on to explain that most kids come to know their family history at times like dinner, or on vacation, or through holiday traditions—and that other research shows that these same situations and experiences occur more frequently in cohesive families. 

All of these things together—family dinners and vacations and all the talking and playing that occurs because of them—help kids develop an intergenerational sense of self. Kids experience themselves as a part of something larger, and that sense gives them “the personal strength and moral guidance…associated with increased resilience, better adjustment, and improved chances of good clinical and educational outcomes.”

So the way to build a happy family is to help kids develop that intergenerational sense of self, and the way to do that is, in part, to build family time and rituals where you can construct narratives about your family.

Next week we’ll get started with 20 discussion questions that will help you start creating your own “oscillating family narrative.” It’s going to be fun!

References: Duke, M P, A Lazarus, and R Fivush. “Knowledge of Family History as a Clinically Useful Index of Psychological Well-being and Prognosis: A Brief Report.” Psychotherapy (Chic) 45, no. 2 (2008): 268–272.

Bohanek, Jennifer G., Kelly A. Marin, Robyn Fivush, and Marshall P. Duke. “Family narrative interaction and children’s sense of self.” Family Process 45, no. 1 (2006): 39-54.

© 2013 Christine Carter, Ph.D.

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About the Author

Christine Carter

Christine Carter, Ph.D. is a Senior Fellow at the Greater Good Science Center. She is the author of The New Adolescence: Raising Happy and Successful Teens in an Age of Anxiety and Distraction (BenBella, 2020), The Sweet Spot: How to Accomplish More by Doing Less (Ballantine Books, 2015), and Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents (Random House, 2010). A former director of the GGSC, she served for many years as author of its parenting blog, Raising Happiness . Find out more about Christine here .

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20 Engaging Essays About Family You Can Easily Write

Discover 20 essays about family for your next essay writing project.

From defining the family to exploring problems within modern families, this personal topic lends itself well to essay writing. If you are preparing a personal essay or were assigned to write one on this topic, good news. You can easily draw on a wealth of sub-topics and themes about the family, as you develop your piece. But if you have trouble getting started, here are 20 ideas for essays about the family.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

1. Why Siblings Should Be Your Best Friends

2. what is a family, 3. how family culture is established by a nuclear family, 4. the importance of family in child rearing, 5. how my family made me a better person, 6. why i love my family, 7. why my mom/dad/grandparent is my role model, 8. the effect of dysfunctional families on teenagers, 9. a sociological approach to defining family, 10. the influence of extended family on a child’s life experiences, 11. how popular culture portrays the happy family, 12. how my dysfunctional family defined my character, 13. how family has changed in american society, 14. is family changing or facing a state of decline, 15. the role family holds in everyday life, 16. comparing the family dynamics between two different cultures, 17. how my multi-cultural family gave me the best of both worlds, 18. unique challenges faced in single-parent families, 19. my most vivid family memory, 20. the challenges of being the youngest or oldest in the family.

A loving family is a beautiful gift, and with it often comes the gift of siblings. You could develop an essay on why siblings should be an individual’s best friends. When the relationship between them is loving and supportive, siblings are always around and able to help individuals through challenging life experiences.

This stands in stark contrast to the friends made in high school and even college. While some people will walk away with lifelong friends, life’s circumstances often pull friends apart. Family is forever, and people should work to develop those relationships. Looking for more? See these essays about brothers .

The dictionary defines a family as “a social group made up of parents and their children” or “a group of people who come from the same ancestor.” Yet this is a very narrow definition of family. Could you define it in another way? Are there people who you consider “family” who are not actually related to you by blood?

This essay idea gives you quite a bit of room for interpretation. Decide how you will define family, and then use the essay to support your choice. Then, discuss different ways family can look in society.

If you need some inspiration, check out our guide to the best parenting books .

The nuclear family is the most basic family structure: parents and their children. This family system is critical to developing a family culture and passing it down to the next generation. Do you find that you highly value having a family night on Fridays? It is likely because that is something your parents showed you in your own family when you were growing up.

Your essay can define family culture and show how family life helps establish that and pass it down to children. This family essay can discuss the nuclear family’s role in teaching children about cultural and religious values. Finally, the essay can establish why family culture and passing it along to children is so important.

For more help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

Can children grow into reasonable and ethical grown-ups without a family? While it is possible, the reality is the most stable adults typically come from loving and supportive families. One of the primary roles of the family is the development and rearing of children.

The family is the child’s primary social group . Through the family, they develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. In some ways, the family is the first school that teaches them the most important principles of life for young children. In your essay, establish the fact that family is the foundation for strong adults because of its role in child-rearing and child development.

If you need to write a personal essay, you can look at your family’s role in making you who you are. Your family played a vital role in your upbringing, from teaching you your core values to supporting you as you developed into the adult you are today.

Remember that you don’t have to have a happy family to write this essay. Even if your family circumstances were challenging, you can find ways that your family of origin helped you improve yourself and become a better person.

This is another personal essay topic. On the surface, it seems easy, but if you are going to write a quality essay, you need to dig deep. What makes your family unique and special, and why do you love that?

Keep in mind that all families have quirks and even problems. Yet you love your family in spite of these and sometimes even because of them. Don’t be afraid to include these in your essay.

Think of your family and the leaders in it. Is there one that stands out for a particular reason? Have you modeled some of your own life on how that person lived theirs?

Whether you choose a parent or a grandparent or even an extended family member, look more closely at what makes that individual so important in your life. Then, in your essay, you can outline how you are trying to emulate what they did in their life to make you more successful in yours.

When families go through difficult times, the effect is not limited to those struggling the most. The whole family will suffer when parents are fighting or financial problems arise. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to dysfunctional family dynamics. They may act out, experience depression, or feel pressured to lead the family when their parents are facing conflict.

This essay explores the effect of family problems on teenagers and their emotional or social development. Consider providing solutions that can help teens manage their challenging emotions even while dealing with the unique challenge of a dysfunctional family.

The definition of family is constantly evolving, but what does sociology say about it? This question could lead to an exciting and engaging essay as you dig into sociology to find your family definition. Based on most sociological definitions , a family is a group of related individuals connected by blood, marriage, or adoption. It may also mean people who live under the same roof.

Based on this definition, the word family has a distinct boundary. While close friends might be something you consider as family personally, sociologists will not define family in this way. Looking at the way sociologists, specifically, define family will give you quite a bit for your essay.

Much has been written about the nuclear family and its impact on the child’s development, but the whole family can have a role to play. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other extended family members can contribute to the life experiences of a child, and you can turn this into an interesting essay topic.

Use your essay to explore what happens when the extended family lives close by and what happens when they do not. You can look at how much of an influence the extended family has on a child’s development, and what increases or decreases that influence.

What does the happy nuclear family look like in television shows and movies? Is it usually a mother, father, and child, or are same-sex couples shown regularly? Do single-parent households get equal representation, or not?

This topic could be a fascinating one to explore in your essay. Once you establish the facts, you can discuss if this portrayal reflects real life or not. Finally, you can talk about whether or not the cultural portrayal of the family represents the type of family values the average family embraces.

Not everyone grows up in a happy, stable family, but sometimes bad times can improve someone’s character and give them the drive to be better. If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, you could show how that helped define your character.

In this essay, work to make a positive spin on your difficult situation. This topic can work well for a personal essay for college entrance or employment purposes.

Is the definition of family changing in American society? Some would argue that it is. While the mother, father, and children style family is still common, many other families exist now.

For example, we have an increasing number of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren . Single-parent families are also on the rise, as are families with a single parent who was never married to the other parent to begin with. Families with same-sex parents are becoming more common as well. Take your essay and define this change and how the nuclear family may look in the future.

Another take on the idea of the changing family dynamic s discussing whether or not families are changing, or if the state of the family is in decline. This essay topic will require some research, but you can explore whether families are breaking down or if they are simply changing.

If you decide that the family is breaking down, you can explore the reasons for this breakdown and its impact on society.

From bringing in the income that the family members need to live on to giving direction for the growth and development of children, the family holds a significant role in everyday life. You can explore this role in your essay and talk about the different components of life that the family controls.

For people who grow up in a stable environment, the family provides emotional support and improves overall well-being. It is also the source for moral development, cultural development, and work ethic development. It also provides for the physical safety and needs of the children. All of these lend themselves well to an essay topic.

While the main definition of family is nearly universal, the nuances of family dynamics change significantly from one culture to the next. For example, some cultures are highly patriarchal in nature, while others focus on maternal leadership. Pick a very different culture from your own, and then compare and contrast them in your essay.

For this essay, make sure that you look at differences as well as similarities. Do not disparage either culture, either, but rather focus on their differences positively. This essay works well if you have contact or knowledge of both cultures so that it can be a great choice for someone growing up in a multi-cultural family.

This essay topic is a twist on the previous one. In addition to comparing and contrasting the family dynamic of the two cultures, you can look at how that directly impacted you. What did you gain from each of the two cultures that merged in your home?

The personal nature of this essay topic makes it easier to write, but be willing to do some research, too. Learn why your parents acted the way they did and how it tied into their cultures. Consider ways the cultures clashed and how your family worked through those problems.

Single-parent families can be loving and supportive families, and children can grow well in them, but they face some challenges. Your essay can expound on these challenges and help you show how they are overcome within the family dynamic.

As you develop this family essay, remember to shed some positive light on the tenacity of single parents. There are challenges in this family structure, but most single parents meet them head-on and grow happy, well-balanced children. Remember to discuss both single fathers and single mothers, as single-parent families have both.

You can use this personal essay topic when writing essays about the family. Think back to your childhood and your most vivid family memory. Maybe it is something positive, like an epic family vacation, or maybe it is something negative, like the time when your parents split up.

Write about how that family memory changed you as a child and even in your adult years. Discuss what you remember about it and what you know about it now, after the fact. Show how that memory helped develop you into who you are today.

Are you the family’s baby or the oldest child? What challenges did you face in this role? Discuss those as you develop your family essay topic.

Even if you were the middle child, you can use your observations of your family to discuss the challenges of the bookend children. Do you feel that the baby or the eldest has the easier path? Develop this into a well-thought-out essay.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

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• What Makes a Family Happy

What Makes a Family Happy - Essay Example

• Subject: Sociology
• Type: Essay
• Level: High School
• Pages: 5 (1250 words)
• Downloads: 3
• Author: ckoelpin

Extract of sample "What Makes a Family Happy"

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How to Make Your Family Happy

Last Updated: November 7, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by Sabrina Grover, LMSW . Sabrina Grover, LMSW is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who earned her degree in Advanced Clinical Practice from New York University. Sabrina has experience working in substance abuse recovery centers and schools where she gained experience providing evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Sabrina specializes in Dialectical, Narrative, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies. She has particular expertise in treating clients struggling with grief, complex trauma, interpersonal difficulty, family conflict, anxiety, and depression. She commits to providing a supportive environment for everyone who commits to growth and offering a warm, non-judgmental atmosphere. This article has been viewed 102,537 times.

How can I make my family happy? This important question holds the key to more meaningful relationships with the other members of your household. To help you get started, we've put together plenty of ideas and suggestions to brighten your family members' days. With any luck, you can start forging even more powerful and fulfilling connections with your loved ones.

Talk to your family members at the end of the day.

Spend time with your family members.

Take interest in the interests of each of your family members.

Show genuine concern about your family members.

Surprise your family members sometimes.

Be a good listener.

Try small gestures to help.

Community Q&A

• Try to keep communication gaps at bay all times. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 2
• Try to respect them, and treat them how you would want to be treated. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 1

• Be calm. Try not to be angry or fearful at all times. Thanks Helpful 23 Not Helpful 4
• Try not to be rude. Try to understand them and make yourself understand politely. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 2

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/fact-sheets/building-strong-family-relationships/
• ↑ https://www.southuniversity.edu/news-and-blogs/2016/08/the-advantages-of-family-time-113366
• ↑ https://visionshine.com/love-your-family/
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201702/7-ways-express-your-love
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-the-face-adversity/201111/being-good-listener
• ↑ https://stephenguise.com/the-psychology-of-being-reliable/

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Essay on What Makes Me Happy

Students are often asked to write an essay on What Makes Me Happy in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on What Makes Me Happy

Spending time with family.

Being with my family makes me very happy. We eat meals together, play games, and share stories. When I’m with them, I feel loved and safe. Their laughter and smiles fill me with joy.

Playing with My Pet

My pet is a big part of my happiness. When I come home, seeing my pet excited to see me makes me forget any bad day. Playing fetch or just cuddling on the couch with them brings me immense joy.

Doing What I Love

I love drawing and reading. When I draw, I create my own world. And reading takes me on adventures I could never imagine. Doing these activities always puts a big smile on my face.

Helping Others

Helping someone in need or just being kind makes me happy. When I see someone smile because of something I did, it makes me feel good inside. Knowing I made a difference, even if it’s small, is very rewarding.

250 Words Essay on What Makes Me Happy

Spending time with people who make me laugh and smile is one of the best things in life. Whether it’s my family, friends, or even just a friendly stranger, being surrounded by positive people can instantly lift my spirits and make me feel happy.

Being in nature has a calming effect on me. Whether I’m hiking in the mountains, walking through a forest, or just sitting in my backyard, being surrounded by nature helps me to relax and appreciate the beauty of the world around me.

Doing things that I enjoy, like reading, writing, and playing music, makes me happy. These activities allow me to express myself creatively and challenge myself intellectually. They also help me to relax and de-stress.

Accomplishments

Achieving goals, no matter how small, gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It makes me feel good about myself and motivates me to keep going.

Helping others makes me happy because it makes me feel like I’m making a difference in the world. Whether it’s volunteering my time, donating to charity, or just being a good friend, helping others makes me feel good about myself and the world around me.

500 Words Essay on What Makes Me Happy

Having good friends.

Having friends is one of the most important things that makes me happy. I have a group of close friends who I can always count on. We laugh together, cry together, and support each other through thick and thin. I know that I can always talk to them about anything, and they will always be there for me.

Spending time with my family is also very important to me. I love being around my parents and siblings. We play games together, go on vacation together, and just hang out together. I feel very lucky to have a close family.

Doing Things I Love

I am also happy when I do things that I love. I love to play sports, read, and write. I also love spending time outside. When I am doing something that I enjoy, I feel relaxed and content.

Learning New Things

I also love learning new things. I am always trying to expand my knowledge and learn new skills. I find that learning new things helps me to grow as a person and makes me more interesting to be around.

Helping others is another thing that makes me happy. I feel good when I can make a difference in someone’s life. I volunteer my time at a local soup kitchen, and I also help out at my church. I find that helping others makes me feel more connected to my community and gives me a sense of purpose.

There are many things that make me happy. Having good friends, spending time with family, doing things I love, learning new things, and helping others are all important things that contribute to my happiness. I am grateful for all of the things that make me happy, and I know that as long as I have these things in my life, I will be happy.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on What Makes An Ideal Community
• Essay on What Makes A Great College
• Essay on What Makes A Good Teacher

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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