Family values

The bell has rung! Time up for the New Year frenzy and madness, back to business. Behold is the time for a new beginning and opening a new chapter for a happier family this year. No matter the hurdles you skipped last year, dust yourself and stand straight, ready to walk a new family journey.

The start of the year is a ripe time to avoid wishful thinking. By and large, that starts with the family setting a road map of what path it wants to take this year, in the name of ultimate happiness.
Cement family unity.

Achieving a united and happy family all year round starts now. Sibling rivalry, parental conflict and clashes with neighbours are all detrimental to happiness in the home and do not augur well for child upbringing.

“Engage the family in an honest truth and reconciliation session, look into what caused the conflicts last year and jointly agree on how to sort it out,” advises Jonathan Okiru, a counsellor at Family Life Network. He suggests more family get-together activities like regular outings, meetings and joint meal time.

Time for one another

This year round, it should not only be the parents to keep swallowing public venom for being “too busy for their children.” The house maid needs to be told to give more time to the little ones and the family doctor should be informed that she ought to be more regular with the periodical medical check up.

The children too, need to be told to have time for one another; elder sister for young sibling, young sibling for elder brother, they all need to share time together just as your spouse needs more of your time. Everybody in the family is an active player this year in the time game.

Give attention to health

Unless we take the health factor of each of our family members seriously, we shall always point fingers at things like witchcraft and food poisoning when our loved ones pass on. We live in an age where diseases can come from anywhere, anytime. Let medical check ups and de-worming not be a privilege this year, and so should physical exercises. This means doing away with unhealthy habits like smoking, drug abuse and alcohol.

Savings and financial discipline
You can decide not to be broke this year by abstaining from wasteful expenditure. That daily expenditure of Shs20, 000 on alcohol can secure your child a peaceful academic year free from challenges faced by fees defaulters.

“It’s important to groom the children to manage the family business and also boost family finances through income generating activities,” Innocent Milton Wabulaka, a businessman in Ntinda advises.

He adds that the family should save on utility bills, “Let all family members use water, charcoal and electricity sparingly to save costs.”

Stick to prayer
Your family needs prayers. We are living in terribly trying times, accidents, malice, envy, superstition, moral decadence et al; you just cannot underestimate the power of prayer. Let our family chorus for 2013 be, prayer, prayer, prayer.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com