"We treat each other well" In strong families, positive strokes outnumber negative broadsides by a wide margin. Members regularly express appreciatio… - Joyce Brothers

In strong families, positive strokes out-number negative broadsides by a wide margin. Members regularly express appreciation: "Thanks for fixing the drainpipe." "You look so nice in that dress." "The dinner was great." Criticism is offered gently. After all, strong families figure, if we can be kind to strangers, why not to one another?

Maybe Listening, not imitating, is the sincerest form of flattery.

Trust your hunches. They're usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level.

Strong families value their extended family, particularly grandparents. In one study of college students, a majority thought their interactions with grandparents reflected high family strengths. It’s important to create continuity between generations, passing along traditions and making roots ever stronger, so the tree continues to reach for the sun.