Reinforce Your Foundations

Be Loyal to Your Team
Communicate your love for your family and your commitment to your “family team.” Return to the basics of all that your family was and is. Remember why you are a family. Remember the unity you shared with your spouse that brought you to be married. Reaffirm with your spouse the dedication and love you share for your children. Don’t allow financial turmoil and uncertainty of the recession to block out the love that holds your family together.

Before any dominoes fall, it is important for everyone in your family to know that no matter how difficult things may get, you and your family are fully committed to one another. A recession frequently brings challenges for which families are not fully prepared. These challenges can exceed difficulties of the past and can create volatile emotions and damaged feelings. Be sure that everyone in your family knows that although you may have occasional disagreements among the players, your family is and always will be on the same team.

Don't Wound the Wounded
If there is someone in your family who is particularly affected by the recession, who has lost a job, or is in some other way feeling the pinch more severely than others; be understanding and supportive of that person. Don’t blame the batter who has just struck out at the plate. Show support as a family team and encourage a positive outlook for the next “at bat.” Avoid criticizing a person who is already feeling down from a bad situation. Negativity is more likely to produce a batting slump than a slugger. By showing support to your “batter” you can help your player to be more successful in future “at bats.”

Blame Game
Don’t waste time blaming one another for financial challenges, but focus on finding solutions. When you’re on a boat that springs a leak, it is better to plug the hole with a finger than to point it at someone. In matters of stress it is easy to see things as black and white while missing the gray areas of common ground. During a recession it is important to put blame and pride aside and work together to find realistic solutions. Do not dwell on weaknesses, but focus on one another’s strengths to find ways to solve problems at hand.