Whole and Healthy Family: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Mind, Body, and Spirit

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Research on intergenerational relationships suggests the importance of understanding greater complexity in these relationships in future work. For example, future research should pay greater attention to diverse family structures and perspectives of multiple family members. There is an increasing trend of individuals delaying childbearing or choosing not to bear children ( Umberson, Pudrovska, et al., 2010). How might this influence marital quality and general well-being over the life course and across different social groups? Greater attention to the quality and context of intergenerational relationships from each family member’s perspective over time may prove fruitful by gaining both parents’ and each child’s perceptions. This work has already yielded important insights, such as the ways in which intergenerational ambivalence (simultaneous positive and negative feelings about intergenerational relationships) from the perspectives of parents and adult children may be detrimental to well-being for both parties ( Fingerman, Pitzer, Lefkowitz, Birditt, & Mroczek, 2008; Gilligan, Suitor, Feld, & Pillemer, 2015). Future work understanding the perspectives of each family member could also provide leverage in understanding the mixed findings regarding whether living in blended families with stepchildren influences well-being ( Gennetian, 2005; Harcourt, Adler-Baeder, Erath, & Pettit, 2013) and the long-term implications of these family structures when older adults need care ( Seltzer & Bianchi, 2013). Longitudinal data linking generations, paying greater attention to the context of these relationships, and collected from multiple family members can help untangle the ways in which family members influence each other across the life course and how multiple family members’ well-being may be intertwined in important ways. Revenson T. A., Griva K., Luszczynska A., Morrison V., Panagopoulou E., Vilchinsky N., & Hagedoorn M (2016). Gender and caregiving: The costs of caregiving for women. In Caregiving in the Illness Context (pp. 48–63). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. doi:10.1057/9781137558985.0008 [ Google Scholar] Jensen A. C., Whiteman S. D., Fingerman K. L., & Birditt K. S (2013). “Life still isn’t fair”: Parental differential treatment of young adult siblings. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 75, 438–452. doi:10.1111/jomf.12002 [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Thomas P. A., & Umberson D (2017). Do older parents’ relationships with their adult children affect cognitive limitations, and does this differ for mothers and fathers? Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, gbx009. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbx009 [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Join us on Facebook for ongoing tips, activities and stories of how other families are benefitting from taking part in HENRY activities.

stars. I have some really mixed feelings about this book. If I had any clue of how insanely (psychotically?) crunchy she is, I probably wouldn’t have read this. As someone who values a healthy lifestyle, my jaw was constantly on the floor at some of her suggestions: Hartwell S. W., & Benson P. R (2007). Social integration: A conceptual overview and two case studies. In Avison W. R., McLeod J. D., & Pescosolido B. (Eds.), Mental health, social mirror (pp. 329–353). New York: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-36320-2_14 [ Google Scholar] Thomas P. A. (2010). Is it better to give or to receive? Social support and the well-being of older adults. Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 65, 351–357. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp113 [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Harcourt K. T., Adler-Baeder F., Erath S., & Pettit G. S (2013). Examining family structure and half-sibling influence on adolescent well-being. Journal of Family Issues, 36, 250–272. doi:10.1177/0192513X13497350 [ Google Scholar]McQuillan J., Greil A. L., Shreffler K. M., & Tichenor V (2008). The importance of motherhood among women in the contemporary United States. Gender & Society, 22, 477–496. doi:10.1177/0891243208319359 [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Carpenter C., & Gates G. J (2008). Gay and lesbian partnership: Evidence from California. Demography, 45, 573–590. doi:10.1353/dem.0.0014 [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar]

The physical fitness mantra, especially when it comes to the current childhood obesity epidemic, is to “eat less, move more.” Healthier eating habits can be derived from adhering to some of the habit-building already mentioned, but if you want your family to move more, you have to make an effort. [10] Frech A., & Williams K (2007). Depression and the psychological benefits of entering marriage. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 48, 149. doi:10.1177/002214650704800204 [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Gerard J. M., Landry-Meyer L., & Roe J. G (2006). Grandparents raising grandchildren: The role of social support in coping with caregiving challenges. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 62, 359–383. doi:10.2190/3796-DMB2-546Q-Y4AQ [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Conger R. D., Conger K. J., & Martin M. J (2010). Socioeconomic status, family processes, and individual development. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 72, 685–704. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00725.x [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Mui A. C., & Morrow-Howell N (1993). Sources of emotional strain among the oldest caregivers. Research on Aging, 15, 50–69. doi:10.1177/0164027593151003 [ Google Scholar]This book was nothing like what I was expecting. I thought it was a sort of academic study on families in general with a focus on the children. Instead, it’s a homeschool mom giving a descriptive glimpse into the life of her personal family. If you feel you need a break from all the activity, your family probably does, too. It’s great to honor social obligations and keep the kids busy, but sometimes you just have to chill out. If your weekends are constantly booked, try to make it a habit to set aside just one weekend a month to have no plans. Berkman L. F., Glass T., Brissette I., & Seeman T. E (2000). From social integration to health: Durkheim in the new millennium. Social Science & Medicine, 51, 843–857. doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00065-4 [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Donoho C. J., Crimmins E. M., & Seeman T. E (2013). Marital quality, gender, and markers of inflammation in the MIDUS cohort. Journal of Marriage and Family, 75, 127–141. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.01023.x [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Lipowicz A. (2014). Some evidence for health-related marriage selection. American Journal of Human Biology, 26, 747–752. doi:10.1002/ajhb.22588 [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar]

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Merz E.-M., Schuengel C., & Schulze H.-J (2009). Intergenerational relations across 4 years: Well-being is affected by quality, not by support exchange. Gerontologist, 49, 536–548. doi:10.1093/geront/gnp043 [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Watch educational shows or documentaries as a family. Start a family book club or even decide to write a book that aligns with your passion. Your children are not your peers in very many ways, but learning new things together is a way to level the playing field a little, encouraging inquisitiveness in your child while letting them know you’re open-minded, too. 10. Watch the News as a FamilyWhether you're just starting your family or have been in the parenting trenches for a while and are looking for a fresh alternative to the way you've been doing things, Jodi can help you create a family culture that allows for the flourishing of every family member in mind, body, and spirit. Protein: 54g Day 3 Breakfast Easy Breezy Super Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffin – Creative Healthy Family Nutrition Breakdown (4 muffins)