Have a Happy Family by Friday: How to Improve Communication, Respect & Teamwork in 5 Days

by Kevin Leman

Every member of a family plays a vital role in the health and happiness of the household. Everyone is important, deserves to be treated with love and respect, and needs to know that when they make mistakes they will still be loved unconditionally. And when every member of the family is pulling for each other and on the same team, everybody wins. But is this kind of family life even possible?

Parenting expert Dr. Kevin Leman says it is, and he's ready to show moms and dads exactly how they can make it happen in their family--in just five days. He shows families how to

· communicate honestly and kindly
· prioritize the right things
· maintain great attitudes and behaviors
· determine the role they play in the family structure
· make family time count

As always, Dr. Leman's outstanding advice is laced with humor, great stories, and the wisdom that comes only from a lifetime of experience.

For parents who've had it up to here with bickering, hurt feelings, and emotional exhaustion, Have a Happy Family by Friday is just what the doctor ordered.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Family

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Dr. Kevin Leman, an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, and speaker, has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology. The best-selling and award-winning author has made house calls for hundreds of radio and television programs, including The View with Barbara Walters, The Today Show, Oprah, CBS's The Early Show, Live with Regis Philbin, CNN's American Morning, and LIFE Today with James Robison, and he has served as a contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America. He is the founder and president of Couples of Promise, an organization designed and committed to helping couples remain happily married. Dr. Leman is also a charter faculty member of iQuestions.com. He has written over 30 best-selling books about marriage and family issues, including The Birth Order Book and Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage. Dr. Leman and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson. They have five children.

Connect with Dr. Leman on:
BirthOrderGuy.com
Facebook
Twitter

Reviews

[Brandi D'Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books you'll want to keep on your bookshelf for easy reference. It covers a wide range of topics concerning raising kids and having a healthy marriage (or single parent life.) Some things I took away were the importance of having a relationship with your kid, let them do the talking (instead of peppering them with questions,) don't over-shedule the kids or yourself, and realize that each kid is different and shouldn't be treated the same. There was also handy section in the back that addressed specific issues. If you've read Leman before, some of the ideas will be redundant, however, I still think it's a good read and many of us need to hear things several times before they sink in.

[JoygaPeach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first read book that I won from a goodreads contest. I am still reading book but it has some good information that I have started to incorporate into my daily life. It has made me look at many situations differently & definitely react in a more positive/favorable manner. I can't wait to see how this truly impacts my life.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheesy title but good parenting advice. I like his down to earth approach . Gives advice for every age of children/teens and family make ups, whether it be single parent , combined family, traditional family, he covers it all .

[Matt Hutson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a solid book about parenting, family, and relationships. It's the first book I've read from this author and one of the few I have read that focuses on romantic relationships. Although some of the tips in this book can be quite obvious, reading through them was a good reminder of how to be a better father and husband. Reading Have a Happy Family by Friday inspires me to read more about relationships specifically.

The great thing about this book is that it focuses on the family as a whole rather than just your parenting style, or just your relationship with your spouse. It actually makes much more sense to combine parenting and relationships/marriage into one book as one without the other will make the other fall apart. One more thing I have to say about this book is that it is one I could return to two, five, or ten years from now and find useful as it talks about a range of topics, especially when referring to children's ages and their behavior. I'd recommend any father, mother, husband, or wife to read Have a Happy Family by Friday.

[Allison Pickett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gift from a family member that I was excited to read. Overall, nothing blew me out of the water but it was full of nice reminders. Unfortunately for me, Dr. Lehman has geared this book toward families with pre-teens and teenagers but some tactics are still appropriate for my young ones. He may have other books that are targeted to my needs that I can look into. It was such an easy read that I could pick up another and try it out.

[Jennifer Schweitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting book indeed. lots of useful information I wish I would have known before when my children were young. now that I have 3 step-children I'm going to use this information to make my home happier place to be.

[Angela Walden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me a great deal with challenging behaviors in my household. It helped me to closely examine my own thinking & behaviors, apply some new methods, & helped me gain insight into what was causing the conflicts & behaviors in my kids. Good read!

[Arthur Henning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough facts, statistics or studies for my liking. Overall many useful ideas though.

[City Girl Moves to The Country · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Reflections:

Who wouldn't want a happy family by Friday? For that very reason I chose to review this particular book, that and the fact that I love Kevin Leman's style of writing, and no nonsense philosophy. When we marry and have a houseful of children we tend to think "what could go wrong, we are family?" But add in different personalities, hormones, misunderstandings, and opinions and you now have the recipe for potential relational melt downs.

In this comprehensive book you will explore five days worth of food for thought and nuggets of encouragement.
The chapter headings for your daily readings are as follows:

Monday: Choose Your Words, Change Your Family. This chapter really hit home with me. I thoroughly enjoyed the reminder of how I set the tone of the family by the way I respond to situations.

Tuesday: The big time, priorities, Activities, Work, and Finances. Another great chapter, to the point and direct loved the tips on what to do and not to do in these areas. We are extremely busy with homeschooling activities so keeping the balance of extracurricular activities is a must! I loved the family first mantra in this chapter.

Wednesday: Navigating the Perfect Storm: Um... Yes please, can we say 12, 14 and 6. Perfect storm, enough said!

Thursday: Why Dad Can't be Mom and Mom Can't be Dad. Great, simply great! I was raised in a single parent home so often times I parent from a completely different angle, not to mention trying to navigate what being a good wife is all about and how to please my dear sweet husband. This chapter was wonderful because it really lays out his and hers. I especially enjoyed reading over the Q and A section. makes you realize others deal with the same kinds of issues.

Friday: Family Connections. Time together is a must in a deep and meaningful relationship, and often times our busy schedules prevent us from really connecting in an meaningful way.

At the end there is also a section titled "Ask Dr. Leman, brilliant!

Over all I would certainly recommend this book to families in all ages and stages. well written, it may take a little longer than Friday to change your attitude, (and possibly your families) but with a little determination and prayer, I know you can do it!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group". - See more at: http://citygirlmovestothecountry-tany...

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long appreciated the books penned by Dr. Kevin Leman, and "Have a Happy Family by Friday" is no exception! Dr. Leman is unafraid to tackle the hardest of subjects, and he does so with truth, godly wisdom, and a dash of humor thrown in as well. The book is easy to read, either in one sitting or one chapter at a time, and there is simply no excuse for any parent to say "well I just don't have time to read another parenting book!". The best part of the book is that it is just so very practical, with numerous real-life stories and situations woven throughout the chapters that provide situations parents will truly be able to relate to. No parent wants their family to feel like a war zone, with constant disrespect or bickering (whether between the parents or the children!). This book will give you some useful tools and strategies to implement with your own family, providing your children with a firm hand while still allowing their voice to be heard. One of my main takeaways from this book is a reminder of the importance of communication, whether between parents in the context of the marriage, between children who need to learn to "fight" in a respectful manner, or between the parents and children trying to navigate the different stages of the growing-up years. I also loved the "bonus" section dealing with birth order and the difference it makes to be a first born versus the middle child or the youngest in the family. That kind of information will help parents understand their children (and perhaps themselves too) with much more clarity. The "Ask Dr. Leman" section that looks at a wide variety of issues he has been questioned about over the years (everything from permissive parents to controlling dads, or how to deal with bickering siblings or grades that are slipping) is also incredibly informative.

"Have a Happy Family by Friday" is one of those books that I will be reading again...and again...and again. I highly recommend this helpful resource and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate the book 31/2. If you get around the author's swelled head and his rants on how great his family is, this is a helpful and interesting book. The ideas he is trying to get across are important and if followed, can really make a difference in your family life.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice on how to start changing your family in just five days. He shows you how to get your priorities straight and focus on your family to make it a happier one. One to keep going back to. Highly recommend it.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas for better communication! I don't know about it working as fast as they claim,however, I will be using the information to help me create better communication in my home. Thank you.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this easy to read, encouraging book! Lots of great tips for creating a sense of family within your home.

[Mark Stapel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a rehash of his other books.