The Secrets of Happy Families Eight Keys to Building a Lifetime of Connection and Contentment

Research proves that happy families are good for health, longevity, peace of mind, productivity, and success. In The Secrets of Happy Families, Scott Haltzman offers an original approach to building family contentment that works for families of all ethnicities and make-ups–two-parent, single-parent, blended, childless, or same-sex couple. He provides a "positive psychology" way of solving family problems through strategy and leadership, including knowing and accepting who you are, taking a leadership role in loving and united relationships, building a network of support in extended families and communities, and making quality time for fun, adventures, holidays, and rituals.

Dr. Scott Haltzman is clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Alpert Medical School of Brown University and editor of DrScott.com. He is the coauthor of the best-selling books The Secrets of Happily Married Men and The Secrets of Happily Married Women.

Theresa Foy DiGeronimo is the author of more than fifty books in the fields of medicine, education, and parenting.

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 What Is a Family? 7

Chapter 2 What Is Happiness? 19

Secret 1 Happy Families . . . Stick Together 28

Secret 2 Happy Families . . . Commit and Communicate 57

Secret 3 Happy Families . . . Lean 80

Secret 4 Happy Families . . . Teach to and Learn from Children 100

Secret 5 Happy Families . . . Blend 131

Secret 6 Happy Families . . . Handle Conflict 155

Secret 7 Happy Families . . . Bounce 183

Secret 8 Happy Families . . . Breathe 206

Epilogue: Happy Families . . . Evolve 227

Appendix: Aggregate Results of the Happy Family Survey 231

Notes 243

About the Authors 251

Index 253

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