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The SITS Girls

The Secret to Success is Support

Family Volley: Today’s Advice For A Better Tomorrow

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Heather is the Author, Professor (of Family Psychology) and Mother behind the blog, Family Volley. Family Volley is a wonderful blog designed to help us build strong relationships within our families.  It’s a great resource for anyone, and I love that Heather tries to practice what she “preaches” in the classroom at home.  And not always with perfect results.  Heather is due to give birth to child number 4 any day now, so be sure to wish her well!

How did you start blogging?
Over the last couple years, my husband and I had continually discussed the key principles I teach my college students, and how we implement them into our own family. He repeatedly suggested I write a book.

I too had been feeling an urgency to share my knowledge with a bigger audience outside the classroom. To satisfy my urgent desire to share, I started Family Volley.

Although setting up the blog wasn’t too hard, settling on a name was the challenge. My husband and I would lie in bed at night throwing around ideas that we felt would fit the blog’s content and my personality. Late one night we laughed hysterically as he suggested “Once Busty”. A tribute to the time I spent nursing our three children. Knowing my parents and students would be reading, I couldn’t bring myself to use it.

I feel very blessed to have been able to study the fundamental principles that help marriages and families become strong, and help us with raising children and developing relationships. The principles are things I use and teach every day. I knew others would benefit also. So I decided to expand the classroom. That is how Family Volley came to be.

What can readers expect when visiting your blog?
The great thing about Family Volley is that everyone has a family, so no matter your age or station in life, the content applies to all of us. When readers visit Family Volley they can expect to find honest and straightforward answers to the toughest life, parenting and family questions. From raising children, grand parenting, friendships, conflict management. temper tantrums, bullying, toilet training, and marital relationships. Readers email me with questions and I provide solutions and ideas to help them (The Advice Tab will link you to all of them).

Readers will also find my personal thoughts and reflections. Struggles and all.

Family Volley is also loaded with unique and fun activities and games to do with your family. Every Friday a new game or activity is featured (All the activities can be found under the FAMILY FUN FRIDAY tag).

How do you see your blog in 5 years?
As long as Family Volley is helping one person, then it is worth continuing. I hope Family Volley will continue to grow and in 5 years has helped thousands of parents, families, and individuals become stronger. I would also like to have found more ways to get the information that I share with my family, students, and readers, out to an even larger audience. I would love for the site to be a go-to-spot for all things family.

You are a professor in real life.  Tell us about juggling teaching, a family and blogging?
Being a mother of three (almost 4), a wife, a professor, and blogging, brings challenges. We are always working to keep balance and prioritize. We hear it often, but time management really is important. We focus on not over scheduling ourselves, or our children. We try to keep our family life intentional. Focusing on creating rituals and meaningful interactions. Morning and evening rituals keep us connected and bonded even when life is extra crazy.

When I started Family Volley I could see that it had the potential to take over my life. It was important to me, but not more important than the people I love. To make it all work, I try to never let it come before my husband and kids, and I try to set reasonable expectations for the blog and its growth. I set aside time in the morning before anyone is out of bed to write and respond to emails. I also make sure I go to bed at the same time as my husband each night.

What advice can you give us about choices that we can make to help our families be successful and help make “a better tomorrow”?
One of the best choices we can make to help our families be successful and make a “better tomorrow” is to be INTENTIONAL.  As parents, we need to have a working plan for our families.

Imagine putting your family in a canoe. If we don’t steer our canoe, then our families are blown around by the winds and pushed and pulled by the currents.  Our families will quickly find ourselves overturned, off course, or washed up on the banks.

Instead, We have to put our oars in the water and INTENTIONALLY paddle ourselves where we want to go. Whatever type of family we want, we have to make. Our willingness to be intentional is the difference between success and failure, with our children, with our spouses and with life.

3 FAVORITE BLOG POSTS:
Bullying-Consider This:  Great advice about what to do when your child gets bullied.
Don’t Mess With Holiday Traditions:  Ways to overcome holiday tradition frustration.
Family Fun Friday-Battle Chairs:  You’ll definitely want to try this family game out!

About Tracie Nall

Tracie lives in Arizona with her husband, teen daughter, and more books than her shelves will hold. She spends her days writing and editing. Many of her words end up on her blog, From Tracie. Find Tracie on Twitter @FromTracie and on Instagram where she takes pictures of things that are yellow.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  7. JulieK says

    Wow I love her parting comment about being intentional – sometimes I feel like I go adrift b/c I just expect a great family to happen b/c we’re “doing all the right things” but it IS work! And I could do better at being more intentional! 🙂

  8. PatriciaD says

    Congrats on your SITS day!! How exciting…sorry I’m so late (I’m on my way to Alaska – right now I’m in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) and I’ve not even been able to get on-line until today since I started my trip (from Missouri on Thursday).

    Your blog sounds absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait to have time to go check it out.

    • Heather Johnson says

      Thank you so much for the SITS day love. That is one of the goals of Family Volley. To create a place where moms can go for practical and fantastic advice. I will keep at it. Thanks for the support. Have a great weekend.

  12. janet White says

    I love your mantra of being INTENTIONAL. It was a “Lightbulb” moment for me when reading this. I look at my situation and feel I take on the role of a facilitator. I am responsible for everything working out and keeping the drama in our family low. I will definitely be following your blog.

    • Heather Johnson says

      Janet, what a kind comment. Being Intentional is so important for our families. It can be hard, but it is worth it. I love “lightbulb moments. Can’t wait to hear how this concept works with your family .Thanks for following Family Volley. I know you will find great resources. I can’t wait to meet you there and get to know you better.

    • Heather Johnson says

      Thanks for the SITS day love. We are really excited for #4. I hope she arrives sooner than later. Come check out FamilY Volley. I know you will love it.
      P.S. Your Salmon Fillets sound delicious.

  17. Penny Lane says

    What a gorgeous family. Can’t wait to read her blog to see what I can try out in my own life. I’m also excited to see the Friday fun activities! LOL =)

    Happy Mother’s Day! (In case I forget to post tomorrow.)

    • Heather Johnson says

      Thanks for your kind comment about our family. I am so excited to meet you over on Family Volley. There is lots of great information and the games are a blast, and unique. Let me know which ones are your favorites.
      Happy Weekend and Mother’s Day.

    • Heather Johnson says

      Hatton, the games are so fun, and unique. For all sorts of families, groups, you name it. Let me know which ones are your favorites.
      Happy Weekend.

  24. Kimberly says

    I’m looking forward to reading more…who doesn’t need some solid advice on family relationships, right? 🙂

  25. Stephanie Faris says

    Awww, they look like such a happy family. And isn’t she just ADORABLE? If I were trying to raise three kids, no way would I look that happy and young!

  26. nmaha says

    I can’t think of a better fb for the SITS girls, particularly me. It’s so comforting to speak to an expert especially when dealing with something as delicate as personal relationships.
    Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
    I’m off to milk this rich resource.

    Have you ever gotten confused on what to blog about? Here’s how I defined my content. http://seekingsynergy.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/what-women-want/

    • Heather Johnson says

      Thanks for your kind comment. I hope you will find Family Volley a great resource for you. Leave any questions you might have and we will see what we can do.
      Have a Great Weekend.

  27. Dawna says

    I’m definitely going to pop over there. It sounds like a GREAT blog! I’m always looking for ways to be a better me, no matter what role that me is fulfilling at any given time. 🙂

    Congratulations on your SITS day and number 4! 🙂

    • Heather Johnson says

      Thanks Dawna, It is a great blog, although I am biased. 🙂
      Love how you said being your best self, no matter what self that is. See you over at Family Volley.
      Have a great weekend.

    • Heather Johnson says

      Thanks Alison, and thank you for stopping by. I can’t wait to get to know you better over on Family Volley. I hope you will leave your thoughts and opinions. Happy Weekend.

    • Heather Johnson says

      Thanks Mel, and thanks for coming over to visit. I hope you will stop by often and share your thoughts and viewpoints. Have a great weekend.