A new definition of family is: a constantly changing, evolving group of people who we feel close to. These folks may or may not be relatives. During the teenage years, changes in family dynamics can challenge the closeness of families. Annie talks with Dr. Susan Smith Kuczmarski about the "soul" of the family (the "stickiness, the glue that holds the family together), the essential role of the Family Caretaker (the "champion of the soul of the family"), and how all of this can help us become a happier family as our children race toward the teen years and beyond. About Susan Smith Kuczmarski (@sskuczmarski) Susan Smith Kuczmarski, Ed.D. has the pulse on today's families. Trained as a cultural anthropologist, she has extensively researched how children learn social skills and how teens become leaders. During the course of a career that spans more than three decades, Susan has taught at eight universities, worked in three nonprofit educational organizations, including the United Nations, and co-founded an innovation consulting firm, Kuczmarski Innovation, in Chicago. Her books include: "Becoming A Happy Family: Pathways to the Family Soul" and "The Sacred Flight of the Teenager: A Parent's Guide to Stepping Back and Letting Go". Learn more at http://SacredFlight.com Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.