3 . Recently I read an article written by Edan Lepucki and titled "Don't Play With Your Kids. Seriously." It makes a case for parents consciously withdrawing from their children ’s playtime until those children are able to play independently all the time.

According to Edan Lepucki, there are two main reasons. One is that it allows the child time and space to delve into wonderful imaginary worlds that he or she is not able to enter in quite the same way if a parent is present.

The second reason is that it gives parents a break. With everything else we do on a daily basis-feeding, cleaning, disciplining, educating, transporting, and more-it's simply too much to be expected to entertain our kids actively, as well. Lepucki describes a sense of exhaustion to which I can relate.

"The constant quarrelling was so exhausting that my husband and I didn't have the energy to play the way my son preferred. After I scolded him, I felt guilty and frustrated."

Adopting a no-play approach changed everything, improving both the relationship with her son and her own mental wellbeing, and it has done the same for me, with my own three children.

I have another reason for choosing this approach: It builds greater independence in children. Children play differently when adults are present. They tend to rely on adults to solve conflicts，whereas when they're on their own, they have no choice but to rise to the occasion and deal with any issue.

Lenore Skenazy, the author of "Free Range Kids", told me that when adults are present, kids act like kids, but when adults leave, kids become adults. She said, "If there's an adult there, they will take over. So adults need to step back."

Take this as your excuse to stop playing with your kids. Know that it' s perfectly OK to say no, to admit you need a break, and to encourage your children to play without you. Then sit back and observe the clever, imaginative little humans you've created at play. It's a most satisfying feeling.

“There is a senseless concept that children grow up and leave home when they are 18, and the truth is far from that,” says sociologist Larry Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin. Today, unexpected numbers of young adults are living with their parents.

Analysts raised a variety of reasons for this return to the nest. One important reason is that the marriage age is rising, a condition that makes home and its pleasantness particularly attractive to young people, which is second to skyrocketing housing costs to which young people find their wings attached. Besides, a high divorce rate and a declining remarriage rate are sending economically pressed and emotionally hurt survivors back to parental shelters. For some, the expense of an away-from-home college education has become so great that many students now attend local schools.

Living at home, says Knighton, a school teacher, continues to give her security and moral support. Her mother agreed, “It is ridiculous for the kids to pay all that money for rent. It makes sense for kids to stay at home.” But sharing the family home requires adjustments for all. There are the quarrels over bathrooms, telephones and privacy. Some families, however, manage the delicate balancing act. But for others, it proves too difficult. Michelle Del Turco, 24, has been home three times — and left three times. “What I considered a social drink, my dad considered an alcohol problem,” she explains. “He never liked anyone I dated, so I either had to hide away to meet them at friends’ houses.”

It is really hard to say how long adult children should live with their parents before moving on. Nevertheless, it is commonly recognized that lengthy homecomings are a mistake and they accidentally destroy the advantage of brief visits that will strengthen the relationship between parents and children. Children, struggling to establish separate identities, can end up with “a sense of inadequacy, defeat and failure.” And aging parents, who should be enjoying some financial and personal freedom, find themselves stuck with responsibilities, which is definitely a stress for them.

6 . Most people don't need convincing that happy relationships are the key to a successful life. When Harvard researchers followed 268 men for more than 70 years, the study's founding director summarized its finding with a single sentence: Happiness is love.    1    

The magic ratio(比例)for happy relationships

The piece comes from newsletter The Profile. Just seven days married, Polina Marinova asked The Profile readers for their best marriage tips.    2    But in the middle of it comes this one essential but dead simple tip: Make sure your relationship follows the 5:1 ratio.

    3    He's perhaps the most respected expert in the field of marriage stability. As the Gottman Institute website explains, “The difference between happy and unhappy couples is the balance between positive and negative interactions(相互影响)during conflict. The 'magic ratio' is 5 to 1. This means that for every negative interaction during conflict, a stable and happy marriage has five(or more)positive interactions.”

A real thing for other relationships, too

It's important to note that the 5:1 ratio was not invented merely for couples.    4    Friendships are more pleasant when both parties make sure that small kindnesses outweigh slights.

    5    What's more, the details of maintaining healthy, positive relationships can get tricky, but all relationships are off to a great start if you begin by setting the 5:1 ratio as a baseline for how you interact with each other.

7 . How to Feel Connected

It's easy to feel disconnected from what is going on around you in today's fast-paced world.     1     You can get in touch and feel connected, however, by following the tips below:

Consider why you feel disconnected. Knowing what is making you feel disconnected can help you choose the best ways to address it.     2     Ask yourself these questions: Are you keeping yourself occupied with work too much? Do you rely on electronic communication instead of face to face communication? Do you lack friendships that are satisfying?

Interact with people in person. Technology is a great way to stay in touch, but sometimes you need to spend time with other people in person.     3     You can also take steps to feel more connected by making small-talk with strangers who are sharing parts of your day.

    4    

Your loved ones could feel shy, so you may never know how to improve your relationship unless you ask the right questions. Asking them to open the doors can give you some insight on what you can do. Learning this information can help to strengthen your bond.

Show your commitment to them. Simply showing up and being there for your loved ones says a lot about how much you value your relationships. Putting in the time shows them that you are committed and want to stay connected.     5    

Show appreciation. A simple “thank you” goes a very long way. Unfortunately, it is something that people who are close often take for granted. Telling someone you appreciate their time, love, and efforts can strengthen your bond and help you to become more connected.

A MOTHER’S DAY SURPRISE

The twins were filled with excitement as they thought of the surprise they were planning for Mother’s Day. How pleased and proud Mother would be when they brought her breakfast in bed. They planned to make French toast and chicken porridge. They had watched their mother in the kitchen. There was nothing to it. Jenna and Jeff knew exactly what to do.

The big day came at last. The alarm rang at 6 a.m. The pair went down the stairs quietly to the kitchen. They decided to boil the porridge first. They put some rice into a pot of water and left it to boil while they made the French toast. Jeff broke two eggs into a plate and added in some milk. Jenna found the bread and put two slices into the egg mixture. Next, Jeff turned on the second stove burner to heat up the frying pan. Everything was going smoothly until Jeff started frying the bread. The pan was too hot and the bread turned black within seconds. Jenna threw the burnt piece into the   sink and put in the other slice of bread. This time, she turned down the fire so it cooked nicely.

Then Jeff noticed steam shooting out of the pot and the lid starting to shake. The next minute, the porridge boiled over and put out the fire. Jenna panicked. Thankfully, Jeff stayed calm and turned off the gas quickly. But the stove was a mess now. Jenna told Jeff to clean it up so they could continue to cook the rest of the porridge. But Jeff’s hand touched the hot burner and he gave a cry of pain. Jenna made him put his hand in cold water. Then she caught the smell of burning. Oh dear! The piece of bread in the pan had turned black as well.

As the twins looked around them in disappointment, their father appeared.

The twins carried the breakfast upstairs and woke their mother up.