Every morning when I wake up, I try and think about ways I can be a better husband and father. While I often think of great ideas that will improve my relationships, health, and my community, the execution oftentimes gets in the way. Today, we are going to talk about some ideas that you and your kids can do that are realistic and fun and will bring you together more as a family.

First let’s think about some goals as a whole family. In this day and age of running to school, practice, homework, video games, and texting non stop, we miss some of the most important memories of childhood. Meals with your family, playing board games, reading books together, and even talking about your day is so important to the relationships in a family. I had a parent try and tell me that their “perfect” child who was suspended from school could only have learned the language and behaviors from other bad influences at school. Wrong! Children learn their basics from their parents and family when it comes to respect for adults, each other, property, and themselves. Sure, they can be influenced by others, but that’s where parenting steps in as well. Developing a trusting relationship between children and parents is vital to their success. If your child is having a difficult time at school or with another person, they need to be able to come to you and talk. If you feel you and your child don’t have that relationship, then work on it. Talk to them, spend time, and be good role models for your children.

When it comes to some specifics, let’s look at some New Year’s resolutions that help the body and mind. First, let’s teach ourselves and our kids to practice good hygiene. Washing hands, covering you nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze, trimming your nails and brushing your teeth are basic, but oftentimes forgotten, personal hygiene traits. Not only can you significantly reduce the spread of illnesses, but you feel better and are more confident about yourself. Along similar lines is our diet. I understand how hard it can be to have the mealtime food battle (I have three kids under six, we go through it almost every night); but the excuse that my my child “has to have something” before they go to bed or “my child only eats cheese” is full of junk. First, who buys the food that is currently in the house? What do you as a parent eat at meals and snacks? How do you respond when you child refuses to eat the meal you prepared? We will talk more about diet and the obesity epidemic in the USA later in the spring, but for now, ask yourself the above questions. You will be surprised that the answer is not “my child is a picky eater.”  So take the New Year to focus on family relationships, personal hygiene, and the food we put into our bodies, and everything else will take care of itself.


Robert L. Rux, M.D. is a Board Certified Pediatrician at Magnolia Springs Pediatrics. Originally from Mobile, he attended medical school at The University of Alabama School of Medicine (UAB) and completed residency at The Children?s Hospital of Alabama (UAB). He is married to Jaime and has three children, Adler, Walker and Mary McAtee.