Trust is probably the main foundation pillar of any relationship and you just need to listen to what it is which couples who have been in long term marriages are saying to be able to understand that this is true.

• Critical communication – Far too often in long term relationships couples forget how to communicate effectively as they simply take for granted that due to familiarity, their partner should be able to know what it is which is going on inside their head, but this is not always the case.

• Always support your partner positively – When in public and when at home try to be positively critical about your partner as this establishes trust as they will realize that they can rely on you no matter what the situation is.

• Disagree constructively – Rather than using “you” terms when there is conflict, rather try to use “I” terms, in other words instead of saying “You are smothering me emotionally” rather say “I am beginning to feel emotionally smothered”, immediately this takes the aggression out of your statement and avoids your partner feeling threatened or blamed.

• Never sleep on a disagreement – This is probably the most important piece of advice when it comes to long term relationships and trust. Always try your utter best to sort out any differences of opinion which you and your partner might have before going to sleep at night, or at least try to find a peaceful compromise where you might choose to agree to disagree.

  ...

It is very easy normally to keep the children entertained during the summer months as you are able to make use of the sunshine and outdoor hours, but when it comes to winter it will often take a bit of ‘thinking out of the box’, as I often tell my Wealth Creator students, to be able to stimulate and entertain your children.

• Build Forts and Build the ImaginationDuring the winter months a lot of the activities which you can share with your children will be limited to indoor activities, so why not take the time to get creative and build an indoor fort with them as this is an activity which will be sure to get them all excited and at the same time stimulate their creative side.

• Share through ReadingAlthough reading should be an activity which you and your children share all year round, the winter months are especially suited to this past time as you will often be very limited so far as outdoor activities go. By spending time together reading stories, you will not only be establishing unforgettable childhood memories but at the same time stimulating your children intellectually and encouraging an ever decreasing positive past time and a love for books and knowledge. Allow each member of the family a turn to read and then enjoy discussing the stories together.

• Creative CookingNo matter how you look at it, children always find it fun to be involved in the kitchen action. Cooking together is a fantastic way to keep the little ones in the home occupied for hours. All you need to do is grab a cook book with recipes in which would be appealing to children and get everyone involved. Not only can this prove to be hours of fun, but the children will begin to learn basic kitchen and cooking skills at the same time. After all, what is better than being able to eat the spoils of your own work at the end of the day?

• Museum MagicTake the time to find out about museums in your area as these can be a great source of entertainment. Many of us are inclined to see museums as boring and old fashioned, but the truth is that most of the museums nowadays are geared to trying to capture the imagination of children and make what they have to show interesting.

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In our modern times it is very seldom that one has the choice when it comes to the decision of being either a business woman or a full time mom. With ever increasing living costs and inflation, many households are simply not able to function on one individual income.

• Morning Planning – Be sure to know what the morning routine is as this can often be a very stressful time for both mother and child. If possible try to get the clothing for the next day, daycare bags and any other items which you might deem necessary ready the night before, this way you avoid the morning rush which can quite often become chaotic if left to the last minute.

• Share Responsibilities – If you and your spouse are both working during the day, then it is only fair that you should both be working when it comes to raising the children. Try to make a compromise and share the daily duties so far as possible when it comes to getting yourselves and the children ready for the day.

• Keep a Family Planner – Be sure to keep some sort of family planner were important events and dates can be listed so that you do not loose track of what it is which needs to be done. This planner could be kept in the kitchen or where ever it is that you all will be sure to see it.

• Flexibility – The actual secret to being a working mom lies within flexibility, you will soon realize that more often than not, things do not go according to plan. Now you can either allow this to become a major stress generator in your life or you can learn the art of being flexible, learn how to reshuffle the schedule and make last minute changes work so as to avoid stress in the household.

It is very easy normally to keep the children entertained during the summer months as you are able to make use of the sunshine and outdoor hours, but when it comes to winter it will often take a bit of ‘thinking out of the box’, as I often tell my Wealth Creator students, to be able to stimulate and entertain your children.

• Build Forts and Build the Imagination
  During the winter months a lot of the activities which you can share with your children will be limited to indoor activities, so why not take the time to get creative and build an indoor fort with them as this is an activity which will be sure to get them all excited and at the same time stimulate their creative side.

• Share through Reading
  Although reading should be an activity which you and your children share all year round, the winter months are especially suited to this past time as you will often be very limited so far as outdoor activities go. By spending time together reading stories, you will not only be establishing unforgettable childhood memories but at the same time stimulating your children intellectually and encouraging an ever decreasing positive past time and a love for books and knowledge. Allow each member of the family a turn to read and then enjoy discussing the stories together.

• Creative Cooking
  No matter how you look at it, children always find it fun to be involved in the kitchen action. Cooking together is a fantastic way to keep the little ones in the home occupied for hours. All you need to do is grab a cook book with recipes in which would be appealing to children and get everyone involved. Not only can this prove to be hours of fun, but the children will begin to learn basic kitchen and cooking skills at the same time. After all, what is better than being able to eat the spoils of your own work at the end of the day?

• Museum Magic
  Take the time to find out about museums in your area as these can be a great source of entertainment. Many of us are inclined to see museums as boring and old fashioned, but the truth is that most of the museums nowadays are geared to trying to capture the imagination of children and make what they have to show interesting.

  ...

Every home has it own types of stress and this is inevitable, however it is the levels of this stress which we need to manage and minimize in order to make our homes more harmonious and pleasant for all those who live there. If these stress levels are allowed to spiral out of control, there is no way you will be able to relax and enjoy your home life.

• To effectively do this you need to realize that no one is perfect and that we all make mistakes. Expect that the children will be naughty from time to time, but find ways to let them know you disapprove of their actions in a calm and civilized way.

Anybody who has ever had a teenager in their house, knows the difficult time they go through during the transition phase where they are neither child nor adult. During this time they need to adjust to numerous physical and mental changes and are sometimes very fragile during this period. However if you take the time and effort to boost your teen while they are going through this transition, your chances of having a well adjusted adult on the other end of the process increase dramatically.

• Learn to listen attentively – Learn the art of active listening, many people think that simply because they are hearing what the other person is saying they are listening, this however is not the case. Take the time and put in the effort to actually listen to what it is that is being said to you, both verbally and nonverbally.

• Discuss rather than argue – At all costs try to avoid arguing over things, rather take the time and energy not to let your emotions rule the conversation, but rather try to discuss the issue or problem in a constructive way. The moment this discussion turns into and argument, no body wins and the harmony you are seeking in your home goes flying out the door. Never allow these discussions to take place when emotions and tempers are flaring, rather take a five minute time out to regain composure so that you are both able to discuss the topic in a constructive and rational manner.

• Remain focused – Try to keep the topic focused on the issue at hand, avoid letting it flare out in all directions and encompass a whole host of issues. Consciously try to keep the topic focused on the issue which needs to be resolved and avoid moving on until you have been able to do so. Always try to sort one issue out at a time or come to the conclusion that you are happy to agree to disagree.

• Avoid accusations – Always try to avoid accusation type statements as they are the fuel to the fire which drives an argument. Many times things can be solved far more peacefully when we realize that the way we choose to approach a subject or problem has a great effect on the result which we will achieve.
   

We need to understand that children are individuals and a motivational technique which works for one might not have the same effect when it comes to another child. This is normal as they too are individuals and each individual has different things which will motivate them.

Far too often we as parents are so busy trying to be a friend to our children that we actually loose sight of what it is that our function as parent is. We need to remember that the influence we have on the lives of our children now, will determine what type of person they will develop into as an adult. We need to remember that our main functions are to be a healthy teacher, motivator and leader for our children.

• Lead by example – First and foremost we need to be sure that we are able to set a good example for our children, remember they are looking to you so as to see what acceptable behavior is. If you are not setting the correct example through your actions, then chances are they will follow your lead and have these same bad habits. You can’t expect your child to be motivated around the home if all they see you doing is sitting around doing nothing.

• Praise your children for motivated behavior – One thing which children thrive on is recognition and praise. Be sure to take note when your child is doing what you want them to do and shower them in praise. This way you will be reinforcing good behavior and the child will be more willing to participate in these actions which have brought them recognition and praise the next time round.

• Teach them the consequence of their actions – A big part of being a Wealth Creator is to be able to take responsibility for your own actions. So if you are able to teach your child that negative actions bring with them actions and these consequences are as a result of their own decisions and actions, then you will be instilling a Wealth Creators mentality in them from a young age. If the child is not doing what they were meant to do, take something away from them for a short while so that they are able to realize that this negative behavior on their part has brought about this negative consequence.

• Reward motivated and good behavior – Many people do not realize that by offering a child a reward for good behavior or doing what has been asked of them can in effect be a very strong motivator. This reward need not come in the form of money or presents, but could rather be something as simple as playing their favorite game with them, reading to them or simply watching a movie together.

• The love factor – Last but not least is the love factor, all children thrive on your love and are constantly trying to find new ways to receive love from you. Showing your children strong love and devotion will go a far way as to strengthening the bonds between you which will in turn motivate them to be willing to do more of what you want them to do out of respect and love for you.

 Many of us are so focused on financial survival or success that we often neglect to give adequate attention and time to our children and other family members. As I explain to all my Alchemist Mentorship students, wealth is about more than just money, it is about well being and this is the reason I base any persons wealth on the Kaizen Wealth Principle, which encourages well being in all areas of life so as to have a life of abundance.

• Listen, listen, listen – Always be sure to actually listen to what it is which your children are telling you, not just hear what they are saying, but listen to what they are saying and understand why they are saying it. The minute your children are able to feel that what they are saying is being understood and taken note of, the more they will feel they can share with you and this goes a long way towards building trust and open lines of communication.

• Show them respect – Always treat your children with the same amount of respect which you would want them to show you, this way they will be able to learn from you that by giving respect you are far more likely to gain respect and this is a very helpful way of developing strong bonds with them as bonds are based on love and respect.

• Teach gratitude by showing it – Even if within you, you might be feeling very grateful for your children and what they mean to you, it is not enough to simply feel it, you need to express it as well so that they are aware of it. In doing so you will also be teaching them how to be grateful and strengthening the love and respect between you all and teaching them how to appreciate and show appreciation for that which others do for them.

• Unconditional love – Always be sure to keep your children secure in the knowledge that you love them unconditionally, even if you might be upset by their behavior or actions and have told them so, be sure to stipulate and reassure them that it has no effect on the amount that you love them but that it is rather their actions or behavior which is upsetting you.

• Boost them at every opportunity – Be sure that when they are trying to do something that you encourage them passionately and sincerely. If you see the challenge has got them a bit stumped, take the opportunity to step up and give them a helping nudge. I am by no means saying you should do everything for them, but nudge them in the right direction and boost them with kind words of encouragement.

• Have family time– Make a point of having specific times where the family does things together as a unit, so as to help strengthen the bonds between you all. A good idea might be to let each member of the family take a turn to decide what it is that you all are going to do on these occasions. This will go a long way towards building memories and bonds together.

• Daily time together – Be sure to take time out of your schedule to spend with your children so that you are aware of what it is that is happening in their lives and how they are emotionally. Be sure to give them your full attention in this time so that they are reassured of your interest in them and what they are going through or experiencing in life.

• Build their confidence – Be sure to constantly remind your children that they can achieve anything which they set their minds to, begin to teach them goal setting techniques from an early age and the correct way to go about achieving these goals. By doing this you will help to build their self confidence and teach them how to get what they are aiming for through effective goal setting and self motivation.

Trust is probably the main foundation pillar of any relationship and you just need to listen to what it is which couples who have been in long term marriages are saying to be able to understand that this is true.

• Critical communication – Far too often in long term relationships couples forget how to communicate effectively as they simply take for granted that due to familiarity, their partner should be able to know what it is which is going on inside their head, but this is not always the case.

• Always support your partner positively – When in public and when at home try to be positively critical about your partner as this establishes trust as they will realize that they can rely on you no matter what the situation is.

• Disagree constructively – Rather than using “you” terms when there is conflict, rather try to use “I” terms, in other words instead of saying “You are smothering me emotionally” rather say “I am beginning to feel emotionally smothered”, immediately this takes the aggression out of your statement and avoids your partner feeling threatened or blamed.
   
• Never sleep on a disagreement – This is probably the most important piece of advice when it comes to long term relationships and trust. Always try your utter best to sort out any differences of opinion which you and your partner might have before going to sleep at night, or at least try to find a peaceful compromise where you might choose to agree to disagree.

• Be punctual – Always do your best to be on time as this shows that you are reliable and this in turn builds trust. If for some or other reason you see that you will not be able to keep to the scheduled appointment, be sure to let your partner know on time as this too helps to establish trust.
   
• Keep to your promises – If you promise your partner that you will do something, be true to your word as this too goes a long way when it comes to establishing initial trust.
   
• Do not internalize all of your feelings – If you truly see this person as someone you want to share your life with, you will firstly need to give some trust before you will receive it in return. Taking the time to share your feelings with your partner will often help them to realize that they too can trust you and be open and honest with you. Trust is a two way street so if you expect your partner to begin to trust you, you will also need to learn how to trust them.

Anyone who has ever been married knows that the relationship will have its ups and downs as you are both individuals and each of you have different needs. The true secret is not to allow petty and insignificant differences to become major issues.|