The Intentional Family

William J. Doherty, Ph.D., The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties

"An Intentional Family is one whose members create a working plan for maintaining and building family ties, and then implement the plan as best they can." This book is all about rituals, those "repeated and coordinated activities that have significance for the family" and bond members together. There are family rituals of connection, of celebration, and of community. Doherty talks in detail about each and provides practical suggestions for how to improve connectedness between family members. One chapter in particular focuses on single parents and remarried families.