"The Real Housewives of New York City" cast members and parents of two, Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen, give you the 411 on how to communicate, parent and stay together as a family.

Find What Works for Your Family - Be Present: As much as we'd like to think so, there are no one-size-fits-all answers to the questions that come up when raising children. Keep your eyes open and be emotionally present so that it is easier to see what you need to do, day to day.

Happy Parents are Better Parents: Parenting is a tough job, and all parents find themselves multi-tasking, many struggling for balance between work and family. Communicate with your spouse; sometimes it's important to remember that you two were there first. In a family that is parented by a happily married duo, parenting can be a shared experience with the emphasis on the children and their demands as opposed to spending too much time keeping their relationship on track. A happy marriage seems to set the tone in the house.

Consistency: In these trying times, it's vital to maintain a united parental front. These days there are many distractions and we find that sometimes it's very tempting to let things slide -- whether it be discipline, bedtimes or dinner menus. Never forget that children expect consistency; it is reassuring to them and sets up your household for smooth running.

Decision Making: A very important thing for families to teach their children is how to make good decisions. If they have watched their parents making well thought out decisions over the years, they will tend to be good decision makers themselves.

Currently, Alex is writing a book about urban parenting slated to be published in late 2009. To learn more about the McCord-van Kempen family, check out www.McCordvanKempen.com.

Click here to see the Real Housewives of Orange County	Click here to see the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" gallery