Happy and unhappy families

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"All happy families are alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way".
It’s a famous incipit (Anna Karenina), but is it true? Are there really happy families? Have you known some?

I think it's true.

There was some research called Timberlawn a couple of decades ago. It found well functioning, happy families all had the following characteristics:

Basic positive and friendly attitude.

Emotional independence.

Parents strong and equal coalition; prepared to lay down law if have to, but always consulting very fully with children first.

Very free, direct, honest and open communication - no feelings are unacceptable - leading to freedom, fun and high spirits.

Ability to perceive the world clearly and realistically, based on ability to accept all own feelings.

Can cope quite readily with change, because enjoy an extraordinary emotional support derived from a transcendent value system.


These characteristics have applied to the happy families I have known personally as well.

All the best
JC
http://unlearningasperger.blogspot.com/

I dont know how many families in modern America are truly happy. I see more disfunction in familes now more then ever. I am very fortunate to have come from a family that for the most part was happy, no divorse, good household income, stay at home mom, my parents did all they could for me and my sis, and I certainly beleive if I was NT then my family woulda been totally happy, unfortunatly cause of me and my issues growing up I was the so called black sheep of the family and have always lived with regrett for the way I treated my family, tho some of it was not my fault, deep down in side I always had wished things could have been a little different. Shows how strong my family is if they can put up with someone like me, heh.

The Waltons?

Honestly, I don't know if I ever met a happy family.