All of us come from families that are diversified by size and other factors, but share many commonalities, including our strong emotions when it comes to different familial relationships and experiences. In this series, we will look at our family relationships – both in the past, present, and future - and we’ll explore three principles of every happy family: Successful families accept the messiness of family life with grace and flexibility; are marked by mutual respect; and are committed to a larger purpose beyond themselves.