The Family Vaccination
Protecting your family from the inside out

If Polio existed today, would you follow your kids around saying, “Don’t touch that; don’t go there; stay away from those people?” No, of course not. You would get them the polio vaccination... because it prevents infection from the inside out. It protects them from polio even when you are not there to watch over them.

We spend a lot of time running around trying to keep our children from being exposed to people or things that might harm them physically or emotionally. As if that is going to protect them. As if we think that is enough. It is definitely not enough. How do we protect our children and prepare them for today’s world when we can’t be with them every moment of every day? We have to think of it just like a vaccination: from the inside out.

There’s so little time to connect in the busy, stressed-out world we live in. We are so busy trying to do everything that today’s culture expects of us, that there’s little time left to connect as families and create the loving, supportive safe haven we all need at home. In past generations, homes were fairly well-insulated from outside influences. Today, we must fight the negative elements that invade our homes through TV, the internet, music and magazines. We are just as busy fighting wars inside our homes as we are outside. Our weapon of choice is rules. We tell our children, “You can’t listen to that music; you can’t watch this movie; you can’t go to those websites...” without realizing that shielding them from negative influences will never be enough.

It’s what we build inside ourselves that makes us strong and protects us, not what we build around ourselves. The best way to protect our loved ones is to instill strong family values and create strong family ties. Children need a safe and loving environment to learn how to behave in the world and a structure that introduces and reinforces values on a day-to-day basis. When we feel safe, loved and valued for who we are, we are open to learning from those who give us that sense of security. We gain the confidence to stand on our own two feet and make good choices in life. How do we build homes that will protect our children and increase their chances of becoming happy, responsible adults in the future? Family science researchers have studied “protective factors” for many years — those things that inoculate our children from negative influences:

Protective Factors

1. direct and clear communication
2. intentional quality time spent together
3. family rituals and traditions
4. shared memories and values – a legacy
5. lots of love and affection

Strong, happy families have a lot in common. They talk about what’s important and spend time together building traditions, memories and loving connections. These protective factors hold true regardless of family income, social status, race, ethnicity or religion. They hold true for families in urban, suburban and rural areas, within the United States and throughout the world. They hold true for traditional two-parent families, and even more importantly, for single-parent families as well.

These protective factors also help families get through little daily hassles and big traumatic events. When people have a good sense of what it means to be honest, responsible, caring and when they have been given the opportunity to learn to trust their own judgment, they will look inside for answers instead of looking outside. The smartest thing you can do to protect your children is to help them develop an internal compass they trust. A strong set of values is like a vaccination for the modern day world. It protects them from the inside out. It protects them when we are not there.

Take the first step in giving your family what they need and deserve. Say NO to today’s dizzybusy lifestyle and get back to the basics of a simple, joyful, meaningful life. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing less and doing the right things. The happyhome habits are based on the five “protective factors” decades of research has shown families need to be strong, connected and happy. Visit the happyhome club online and join the thousands of families who are experiencing the powerful difference these simple habits can make in their lives. Take part in the life-changing happyhome challenge and earn free products that will enrich your family life at home...because happyhomes don’t just happen.

Lorle Campos, CEO/Founder of Once Upon a Family, is the author of happyhome: a family's guide to finding balance in a dizzybusy world. Take part in the happyhome Challenge to receive free tools and products to enrich your family life at home.