It’s said—and I suppose it’s true, because otherwise it wouldn’t be said—that September is the month with the most separation requests. The reason? Perhaps the summer, the increased cohabitation, the heat, or simply the lack of delicacy in everyday dealings. Whatever the case, it’s a reality worth paying attention to.

During the summer, we spend more time together, the children don’t have school, many families move to vacation spots where everything seems relaxing… but life goes on. We still eat, sleep, clean, cook, and take care of children. And that, if not organized and handled with love and courtesy, can lead to tension.

Heat doesn’t help. Unlike the cold, which can be combated with a blanket, heat alters mood, irritates, and creates a bad atmosphere. Therefore, it’s in summer that we should pay the most attention to the small details, our manners, and our way of relating to others.

Do we speak to each other with affection? Do we say “please,” “thank you,” “excuse me”? Do we take care of our clothes inside the house, or do we leave them in a state that reflects neglect? Do we value the food or do we simply criticize it? All of these builds (or destroys) the family atmosphere. It costs nothing to offer a glass of cold water to someone who arrives feeling hot, to give up the best chair, or to avoid unnecessary reproaches.

Many mothers say: “Everyone’s on vacation, but who’s cooking?” It’s not a trivial complaint; it’s a wake-up call. Co-responsibility at home is also love. Agreeing on plans, carrying them out with gusto, without criticizing each other’s preferences, without blaming others when something goes wrong—that’s living as a family with grace and understanding.

Language also matters. We shouldn’t normalize shouting, cursing, or vulgarity, even if it’s fashionable. How can we expect our children to be sensitive if adults aren’t?

Vacations should be for resting, not arguing. But many people write to me saying they’re afraid to go on vacation because they end up arguing. And it’s not unusual: family gatherings with political differences, different ways of raising children, comparisons that generate envy… all of this is disuniting.

We must avoid talking about what divides us. Keep our silence when it’s time. Don’t criticize our in-laws. Respect the person we’ve chosen as our priority for life. Because when you don’t feel like a priority, you feel unloved. And that hurts.

Let’s avoid comparisons between siblings, between children, between lifestyles. Envy is born from comparison, and comparison destroys the environment.

Dear friends, let’s give others a good atmosphere. Joy is a virtue. Let’s focus on the positive in people. We didn’t get married to constantly see the negative in each other, but to make their lives more enjoyable.