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How many times have you complained that you never get to share a personal moment with your spouse or that your child has no time for you? Here`s to sharing a wonderful support system within the family.

It becomes a problem when you let recurring circumstances get the better of you. Overwhelming household chores, demands of your job, strained relationships between family members and a lack of personal self-care can take a heavy toll on your confidence and attitude. Remember if you don`t spare enough time for yourself and your family, you may begin feeling sad, tired, or even physically ill. Talking to others or writing your chores and ideas down on paper can be a good place to start. By effectively managing time you can do what you want, try something new, and what`s more, spend time with your family.

1. Spend time outdoors

When children in the family are involved in activities outside the home, make sure that you and your spouse join them at least once a week. Incidentally, this is a great role modelling opportunity for your young child    and goes a long way in building up good and strong support systems in the family.

2. Ration television time

Remember that the worst kind of family conflicts occur when there is little or no interaction between the members. Lack of time can lead to conflicts and our television sets are sometimes the major culprits in systematically destroying the relationships within a home. Ration television-viewing time. But if everyone in the family gets together to watch TV, that just might be a great idea!

3. Cut your "individualism"

" I know I have a mind of my own and can live all by myself "    that kind of stuff. Of course, by identifying your values, your strengths and strong personal beliefs, you can create a good balance within yourself. But your home is certainly not the place to blatantly display your muscle power. You need to avoid twisting the others` arms to follow the regimen that you have set! Let go! Enjoy life!

4. Read the paper aloud

Leave alone the television - even playing music on a radio can mute all the members in a family. It provides the "background distraction" for every member to be left alone. Try this instead: read your morning paper aloud for about 10 minutes and start a discussion on something that everyone will be interested in. Make sure you read the right kind of stories that will get everyone`s attention. Otherwise they will just think you to be goofy and leave you alone!

5. The Saturday trick

On Saturdays, go to bed late. Gather on the terrace or verandah. Look at the stars. Eat your dinner in moonlight and star glow. And just talk. Talk about old friends, relatives.... just about anything at all! Talk till everyone falls asleep.

6. Again, spend time outdoors

Always value time spent shopping or eating out with your family. Just as long as you all are together and doing something together. Even if you have to stand in long queues, or miss a favourite TV show, just going out with the family makes all the difference for everyone    including yourself.

So get on your feet and create some quality moments for your family. Don`t just sit there and wait for it all to happen! Make it happen!