Help kids take responsibility

Advertiser News Service

Parents can save time and help children learn responsibility by delegating some of the work at home, says Katey Walker, a family resources specialist at Kansas State University. Her suggestions:

• Let go of authority.
• Train thoroughly.
• Define responsibilities clearly and set deadlines.
• Help children see how their part fits with the complete task.

Toughing it out

If you're considering divorce, consider this surprising news from the University of Chicago, reported in Prevention magazine: In studies of 700 ready-to-split couples, researchers found that two-thirds of those who stayed married were happy five years later.

The couples toughed out some difficult problems — including alcoholism, infidelity, financial hardship and serious illness — by being stubbornly committed, working together on issues and lowering expectations, researchers said.

One exception: Physically violent couples were usually better off divorced.