Family members are willing to sacrifice their individual desires for the good of the family. The need to be appreciated may be the strongest need of all. In strong families, members show appreciation to each other often. They thank each other for help with everyday chores like washing dishes, doing yard work and doing laundry. They notice what family members do right instead of focusing on what family members do wrong.
Strong families talk and listen to each other.
This means that they spend time together. They plan times when they talk together, such as at mealtimes or in family meetings. They respect each other's opinions and think of others' feelings when they talk. When researchers asked children what makes a family happy, the most frequent response was doing things together. Children want to spend time with their parents.