The Intentional Family Essay Examples

The Intentional Family Essay examples
Brief Summary The Intentional Family is a book about strengthening family connections and relationships through everyday rituals, holiday
celebrations, special occasions and community involvement. The book serves as a guide to help families transform simple family routines into family
rituals. It discusses the importance of being consistent with good family rituals and compromising to change rituals that do not work. Doherty states
that family rituals provide four important things, predictability, connections, identity, and a way to enact values. He gives many examples and
suggestions on how families can best create rituals from activities they may already be doing. Many families have rituals that they feel "stuck" with.
Doherty also...show more content...
Once you realize you enjoy something you have already experienced, propose making it a ritual.
What Did You Learn? The most important concept I have learned from reading The Intentional Family by William Doherty is that too many people
are content to just let life "happen". Dougherty uses the example of putting a canoe into the Mississippi River. If you do nothing, you will head
south. If you want to go another direction or even stay where you are, you have to work hard and have a plan. The same applies to having a family.
A couple must plan and work at having a close, connected family. Dougherty suggests this can be accomplished through the intentional planning of
family rituals. Before reading this book, I had not given a lot of thought to family rituals. I recognized that my family had rituals, but didn't
understand the impact it can have on relationships. I have learned that family rituals can have a greater effect on families if they are planned to have
meaning and significance for the family. There are many examples of activities I have done with my kids that we have enjoyed, but by failing to
repeat them, I have missed out on creating a ritual. For an activity to be a meaningful ritual, it needs to be repeated. By repeating these activities, you
are increasing the predictability or stability children need. Predictability is one of the four important things that family rituals provide. A second benefit
of establishing family rituals
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Reflection on Family
Family Reflection
"No one is ever born into Life alone. Everyone has shared the bond of family, at least at birth, and for many people it is a bond that will follow them
throughout life. For many people it is the most important bond of all."
Family means many things to different people, yet the word itself can bring about a host of emotions from anyone who hears the word uttered. As a
child growing up in the 60s and 70s the family dynamic was defined by the people we grew up with were related to by blood, and extended to the many
family members of the different generations that made up the family unit.
I have fond memories of growing up with love and compassion, by the people who I was surrounded with. The feeling of...show more content...
The people may be different, but, the bonds will grow and develop in our existence.
I remember the feeling of completeness and security I had growing up with my mom, dad, grandparents, and extended family members. I always
felt like I belonged and was accepted for me. People are not perfect, sometimes in actions and words, but, knowing the unconditional love that we
are surrounded with by our families keeps us grounded in our true selves. Now that I am older, I feel the same security that I experienced while
growing up. A familiarity of comfort that brings me to a place of peace and security. My own comfort zone where I am loved, happy, cared for and
needed.
A family can be defined in many ways, but the common denominator in all is the love and fulfillment one gets by being surrounded by family
members. Families can sometimes be at odds with each other, but the strain of this type of relationship usually creates an upsetting feeling to the
people involved. People want others to rely on, talk to, do things with, share, love, embrace, and be part of. No matter what the family dynamic is the
qualities the word family has will remain the same, as time goes by, and life evolves once again for every person living their

Essay about Family Values
When raising a child one is taught values by their families that they feel are important for their child to have. I believe that family values consist of
certain actions and qualities that are important to a family to uphold. Values that are important in my family are honesty, trust and to have respect for
others. Each of these values is equally important in my family. They played a big role into making me the person I am now. Growing up in my
family taught me that honesty is the best policy. When I would get into trouble as a child I would often try to lie to my mom thinking that would save
me from being punished. I soon learned that lying would only get me into more trouble than I was already. Honesty has given me the reputation of
...show more content...
Respect is an important value to be taught when growing up. Through the years I have learned that in order to learn anything you must have respect
for others. I have learned many valuable lessons from listening to my grandmother. She has told me many of her experiences, which has made me a
better person. Having respect for other people has allowed me to be more open–minded and see qualities in people that most would not. I have always
listened to what my friends and family has to say. That doesn't always mean that I agree with them, but it is their opinion, so I respect it. In return
I receive respect from them. As people begin to respect me more their trust in me also grows. Trust is a value that was very hard for me to learn. I
was always afraid that someone was going to hurt me one way or another. My mother was always telling me that I should learn to trust others so that
they could help me from time to time, but I never could do it. Eventually I finally learned to trust others a few years ago. I have realized that other
people can do many things for you if you just trust in them. This helps me in the relationships I have with my friends. Trust doesn't happen overnight, it
takes time. I have learned that trusting certain people is worth the risk, and helps the relationships I have with them. All values that families instill in
their children are important. They are the deciding factors that help a person grow. Values

Reflective Essay About My Family
Everyone has a story of who they are and how they came to be. We all grow up wanting the perfect family, the perfect parents, perfect house, perfect
siblings, and to top it off, the white picket fence that surrounds the house. Then life sets in and you realize that life is not all rainbows and unicorns.
The people in our life and the environment that we grow up in, is what shapes us to the person we are today. Factors that influence how we are as a
person are our family, parents, and society. I come from a family that is hard to describe. We all get along and know when it is time to unite as a
family but at the same time the moment someone disagrees with one another, sides are chosen and it takes forever for us to make up. My family has
...show more content...
My dad was a great dad if he was not under the influence, but if he was under the influence he was very abusive, physically and emotionally. My mother
on the other hand, wants nothing but for me to prosper in life and be happy. If I were to describe my mom with one word it would be, fighter.
Everything my mother does is for the benefit of my brother and I. My mother has influenced me in many ways. She has taught me how to stand up for
myself, to not be afraid of things that may frighten me, not to listen to what others have to say about me because in the long run, what I think about
myself is all that matters. My mother is my biggest influencer and supporter and I will be forever grateful that I have such a great mom.
Society today is a huge influential part in everyone's life. Others may say that they are their own person and that no one has affected who they are
as a person because they are, "their own person," but society affects everyone to what they wear, what music they listen to, how they behave, and
many other things. Society has influenced me to stand up for others and to be a voice for those who are too scared to share theirs. I see all over the
news and social media, all the hate that goes on in the world just because someone is a little different then them. Society has also influenced the clothes
I wear and music I listen

Family and Community Essay examples
Family and Community
The family will become experts in services for traumatic brain injuries(TBI); Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Department of Rehabilitation
regulations, while trying to adjust to a family member who has had a TBI. Many times this beloved family member had been hanging on the edge of
death for unending hours, days, weeks, or even months.
When they come out of the coma, they are not the same as they were. In most cases they are not able to do what they used to do, and their behavior
may be dramatically changed.
This will cause significant stress in the family structure; statistics show that 90% of families facing TBI are not able to stay together. The community
involvement will...show more content...
To qualify for Social Security the individual and family if they are financially responsible, cannot have more than $2000 in resources as a single, or
$3000 in resources for a couple.
This doesn't include the home they live in or the car(within limits) they use to go back and forth to the doctor. For most Americans, we would see this
as totally destitute, but currently this is the requirement. In California, SSDI, the minimum cash aid, is around $800 and it will go up depending on the
amount the consumer contributed to the federal program. Here in California, the consumer would be qualified for
Medicare and Medi–Cal which involves a maze of paperwork and regulations. Under this program there is a $2000 a year cap on Durable Medical
Equipment (DME), which has to cover the expanse of assistive technology like reachers(devices that grab items out of reach) to bladder bags. These
are not luxuries, but items that can change the quality of life for an individual and their families who have just experienced the traumatic incident of a
brain injury.
There are different social services available to individuals and families that have been involved in a TBI such as
Occupational Therapists (also called OT). OT services mainly focus on activities

A Family Portrait: How the Picture Keeps Changing
Growing up I believed that the three bears in the tale of Goldilocks were a family because they lived under the same roof and ate at the same table. I
also believed that Barbie and her little sister, Skipper, were family because they looked alike, and that Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Potato Head were
family because they were married. Now that I am grown, my understanding of family has matured, and many sources have helped shape my belief.
Carol Shields points out in her article, "Family Is One of the Few Certainties We Will Take with Us Far into the Future," that all around us there are
different definitions and symbols of family (Shields 558). In short, a family does not have to conform to...show more content...
Thirty years later, parents are semi–reformed hippies whose children were conceived in a commune. For many, our definition of "family" is learned
through what society tells us. Being born means we are somehow connected to someone whether we are the most famous person or the poorest beggar
on the street (Shields 559). In its most basic form, everyone has a family.
Today, non–traditional families dominate the scene. The "normal" family is now uncommon in our society (Shields 562). Teachers have to be
cautious when assuming every child has a mommy or daddy. Social workers must no longer be surprised when their clients are actually grandparents
taking care of their grandchildren. Some children may have two daddies, or some only have a mommy. The list goes on. The culprit creating these
unusual families is not always divorce and can include the death of a parent, unwed mothers, or single–sex parents (Shields 562). New families are not
required to be biologically related. In an article about her non–traditional family, "Why Do We Marry?" Jane Smiley points out that people with
numerous marriages or partners extend the definition of family (564). She writes, family dinners consisted of "me, my boyfriend, his daughter and son
by his second wife, my daughters by my second husband, and my seven–year–old son by my third husband" (563, 564). Relationships begin to
resemble several broken, rerouted, and

Thesis About Family
Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS STUDY
1. Introduction
Family is very important part of our everyday life. It helps us in improving our personality. It also helps us in shaping our life. It teaches us the value
of love, affection, care, truthfulness and self–confidence and provides us tools and suggestions which are necessary to get success in life.
Family is a place where you can be yourself. It is a place where you are accepted for what you are. This is where you are completely tension free and
everyone is there to help you. Family encourages you when you are surrounded by problems. It helps you survive through tough times and bring joy
and happiness into life.
Decency is very important in the communication of daily life. It...show more content...
Psychologists believe that a child learns the most from his or her family life. The way your family members deal with you has a life long effect on
your personality. Keeping in view all these facts the importance of your family life cannot be denied. Family unit happens to be the most important
part of your life till you grow up. The children are usually closer to their parents and their siblings as compared to any other person in the world. As
the children grow up they find good friends, spouses, their own kids and colleagues to share their lives with. Although time brings this change but the
importance of family remains there. The children who have a sound family background and who belong to a family with strong family ties are almost
always happier. Thus one cannot deny the importance of family life.
The life with your family is very important it plays a major role in your development into the person you become. The goals you set for yourself in
your life are very much dependent on the life you have with your family. Those children who belong to the families which have a rich education
background tend to learn more. They are interested in learning more and thus it is easy for their parents to get them educated. Similarly, for example,
children who belong to a family from which a few of the people are in the field of professional sports, the kids tend to have an interest in sports and
they also

What Is A Family? Essay
For most of us, the family is considered as a well–known and comfortable institution. The perfect model of the 'ideal' family is still mostly considered
to be consisted from two different sexes' parents, and one or more children. Until quite recently, the sociology of the family was mostly functionalist
and just in the last few decades has been challenged from various directions. There are many different definitions about what the family is. Different
theoretical positions influence these variations. For example, the functionalist sociologist George Peter Murdock defines the family as "a social group
characterized by common residence, economic co–operation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain...show
more content...
An early functionalist George Murdock argued that the family plays the main role in the society by performing three main functions– пЃ¶Stabilisation
of the sexual behaviour and reproduction. пЃ¶Providing the basic economic requirements. пЃ¶Serving the function of socialisation of the next
generation. G. Murdock claimed that without family serving these three functions the society would disappear. He considered these functions as
universal, although he agreed that they could develop. Talcott Parsons argues this statement, by saying, that there are two broad functions of the
family– primary socialisation and stabilisation of the adult personality 'throughout the emotional security, including sexual expression, provided by
marriage' (O'Donnell, 1997). In these days, when society is changing, the functionalistic statements lose their strength. For example, the sex outside
the marriage, in these days of easily available contraception, is no more the taboo. Margaret Mead argues Murdock's and Parsons imply that nuclear
family is biologically necessary and natural. She stated that the nuclear family is based on culture, not biology. Marxist views on the family Marxists
have very critical view of the family and society. They adopt a structural perspective, but put it in the class nature of the society. The starting point for
the most Marxist analyses of gender and the family is Friedrich Engels' (1820–1895) The Origin of the

Essay on My Family's Ancestry
Gathering research about my family and its history turned out to be an interesting and insightful opportunity, through which I learned much more than
I expected. When I started this project, I knew that I would not be able to find as much useful information on the Internet as some of my peers. In
effect, I realized that I would have to rely on other primary resources such as my parents and grandparents to reveal the story of my ancestry to me.
After I had interviewed them, my family history became much clearer to me. More than 2 millennia ago, around the 3rd century BC, a group of
Tamil–speaking people from present–day South India migrated to the nearby island of Sri Lanka. Among these people, known today as "Sri Lankan
Tamils", are my...show more content...
The Peninsula has a hot, monsoonal tropical climate characterized by a dry season from February to October and a wet season from October to
January. Because of the monsoons, the region is humid and averages three feet of rain each year, which is relatively low compared to the rest of the
island. The climate of the region allows for many crops to be grown including many varieties of fruits and vegetables.
While interviewing my parents and grandparents, I learned about many customs and aspects of the Sri Lankan Tamil culture. Sri Lankan Tamils are
devotees of the Shaiva sect of Hinduism, mainly worshipping the lord Shiva. The three main cultural festivals celebrated in the area are Thai Pongal
(beginning of the harvest), Chittrai Pongal (Tamil New Year), and Deepavali (Hindu Festival of Lights). In addition, pujas (religious rituals) are
performed for different occasions, such as the death day of an ancestor or the celebration of a certain Hindu deity. It was also a custom to ask the
village astrologer for advice on certain decisions, such as the name of a newborn child.
Paternal Great–Grandparents In the early 1900's, Kadirasaipillai and Vairavipillai Kandappar, my paternal grandmother's parents, were born in the
village of Puloly, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. They were both born into families of the Vellalar caste of Tamil society and went to school at Puttalai
Vidhyalayam, the only schooling option

My Family Essay
No one can't meet a family like mine's. My family is well diversified. Every family member plays an important role in all my family's lives. In my
family, there are four people: my father, my mother, my little brother and me. My father is one who brings money home and is also responsible for
organizing and planning family trips. My mother is the one who is in charge for making meals and makes sure everyone eats at the appropriate times.
My little brother is the pet of the family. He actually doesn't have any responsibilities, for he's the pet. I am the rock of support in my family. I always
go beyond my parents' expectations. I also support my younger cousins and little brother, by being a role model that they can look up to. Another...show
more content...
Doing what my parents tell me to do is just one of many reasons why I am a rock of support for my family. Not only do I support my parents, but I
also support my younger cousins and brother. As an eldest brother and cousin, I feel I must be a good example for the young ones. There are
numerous methods of showing my cousins and brother support. One main way is by providing advice on making the right choices. For example my
brother had a problem at school with one of his classmates. As a mature and responsible older brother, I advised him to use the non–violent approach. I
told him to go discuss the problem and try to resolve it peacefully. My brother then asked me why he shouldn't fight his classmate. I explained how
violence is the answer to anything. I advised him to first talk to his classmate in a professional manner. If then things get out of hand, I told him to
let the teacher know the situation. In the end, my brother didn't need to get the teacher involved. In fact, their conflict was resolved by talking
through with each other. I also am very supportive of my little cousins. One way I help them out is by tutoring them once in a while. They come
over to my house and I assist them with their school work. Not only I help my cousins with their homework, but I also support them recreationally. I
play various sports and activities with them. As their older cousin/brother, I feel I should be a good role model to follow. I am also known for being there

Argumentative Essay About Family
When I hear the word family, I think of people who are are blood related, the people you live with, and the people you see all the time. They
provide for you and embarrass you. People are also family, even if they aren't blood related, but are there for you no matter what and they mean
everything to you. Family is always by your side when you need them. People hear family and think about parents, I hear family and think about my
parents, aunts, cousins, friends, and my karate family. They are all so important to me and I don't know what I would do without them. On the other
hand, Romeo and Juliet displayed family in an interesting way. When Juliet said she didn't want to marry Paris, her mother said she would disown her
if she didn't do...show more content...
Loyalty is sticking with the people who have hurt you or lost your trust. It's having someone's back even though they might've stabbed you in yours.
When you have loyalty, you don't leave someone just because they said something mean about you or you heard something from someone else. They
might have hurt you, or you might've gotten into an argument, but at the end of the day you will always be best friends. When you have loyalty is
doesn't matter what they said or what they did, you love them anyway. Similarly, how Romeo and Juliet get married behind their parents' backs. Also,
how when Romeo thought that Juliet was dead, he went and got a poison and killed himself. Another example is when Tybalt kept his loyalty to the
Capulet family by killing Mercutio.
When I hear the word trust I think of friends. You have to have a lot of trust in your friends and they need to be able to trust you. I have a huge
amount of trust in my best friend, I tell her everything. There are some people who say that you can trust them, but then it turns out that you can't and
they've told everyone your secret. I think that trust is confiding in a person or people that you know if you say, "don't tell anyone," they won't tell
anyone. For instance, in Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence kept Romeo and Juliet's trust by not telling anyone about their marriage. I think that Romeo
and Juliet trusted each other enough

My Family Essay examples
I was born into a "happy" family that was actually a web of lies, which unfolded itself through a divorce. My parents' marriage was based on the
fact that my father needed a permanent residency card to stay in the United States. Some people may view this as a devastating event; however I
have chosen to embrace being an American and a Ghanaian. Coming from two different backgrounds was a challenge, because of the different values
and morals each share. These challenges have left me to understand my true purpose concerning my two cultures. I feel fortunate enough to grow up
with two different aspects on life itself. Throughout life I was considered to be the "one" on both sides of my families. I was the one who was
supposed to accomplish...show more content...
Such as attending a public college or becoming President of the United States. Education has therefore played an important role in my life and has been
highly valued in my family.
While the expectations of my American and Ghanaian family members were so high, their affirmation was not always there. As a child of divorced
parents, my mother raised and supported me. My father was always there mentally, emotionally, and physically, but I was financially fully
dependent on my mother. Although she had an education, we still struggled. Sometimes we didn't know where our next meal was coming from
and had to rely on others. We moved several times while I was growing up and at times, I would be left at a relative's house because of my mother's
need to get us financially stable. Things improved, I remained committed to working hard in school, and the expectations never changed. Education
has brought me, given me, and gifted me with empowerment, leadership, confidence; greater understanding of social issues and tools to work
towards social justice. As many educators say, education is the key to success. I believe that not only is it the key to success, but it's also the key to
happiness. College will help me meet my high education and career expectations that I have for myself which is to ultimately get my Professional
degree, and make a global difference. It will also help to meet my families as well. College will help me

Family Observation Essay
Context of Observation
With her mother's permission, I observed my cousin's 33–month–old female daughter named Clara. This observation occurred at my grandparents'
house, who are Clara's great–grandparents. My grandma frequently babysits Clara and her older and younger sisters, so she is familiar with the
house. It was Thanksgiving when I did the observation with Clara, so she was surrounded by a combination of familiar faces as well as people that
she infrequently sees. For example, I only see her during major holidays due to the fact I now live out of state, and while she has interacted with me, I
am more or less a stranger to her due to the infrequent nature of our interactions. All of the Oswald family members came to Thanksgiving this year, so
my grandparents small house was packed with many people. Additionally, it was constantly noisy in the small house, with lots of different activities
occurring throughout the day.
Observations
Attachment
To begin with, one of the most interesting things I observed with Clara is how clearly her behavior demonstrated a secure attachment with her parents.
While my grandmother's home was a familiar place to Clara, adding so many family members, and family members she did not know, made the
situation somewhat unfamiliar with her. It was interesting to see how she interacted with myself, my mother, and my fiancГ©, all of us whom do not
have much interaction with Clara, at the beginning of Thanksgiving. When we tried to interact with her, she would stare suspiciously at us, and then
run to her parents or grandmother. When we tried to interact with her in her "secure base", she would bury her head into the shoulder of whoever was
holding her.
Eventually, the cycle of going back to the secure base and exploring got bigger and bigger. As she, I assume, continued to get confirmation that the
unfamiliar situation was safe, and her secure base was there to protect her, she would feel more comfortable venturing out, exploring the house more,
and interacting with unfamiliar faces. She would check in with her parents, grandparents, or aunts by sitting on their lap for a little while, but as the
night went on, the duration between these check–ins became longer, and they also became

Growing Up in a Large Family Essay
Growing Up in a Large Family
Roommate: "Hey wouldn't it be fun to go to New York for the weekend?"
Me: "Yeah! We could stay with one of my sisters in Brooklyn."
"I thought you said your sister lived in Texas."
"That's a different one."
"Wait, how many sisters do you have?"
"Six."
"WHAT? Any brothers?"
"Three."
"Are you serious?"
This is the typical response I get when I reveal to someone that there are ten kids in my family. When the shock subsides I am always bombarded
with the same questions. "The same two parents? How big is your house? How many bedrooms are there? Are there any twins?" and more
importantly, "How many bathrooms does your house have?" My personal favorite is, "Can you say all your siblings'...show more content...
All the toys were shared, and the clothes had been passed around so much no one was sure what belonged to whom. Not even my own underwear
was off limits. I had to periodically make the rounds of my sisters' and brothers' room to find things that had "disappeared" from my own. In my
house no one ever expects to find something where they left it. The only way not to go insane searching for stuff all the time is to find some really
good hiding spots. The biggest problem with having no real sense of ownership is when it's time to clean the house. It doesn't matter how many times
my Dad yells, "Whose Lego's are these?" because no one will answer him. No one claims ownership, and no one claims responsibility.
The hardest thing to share was a bedroom. At one point I shared a room with my younger sister ZoГ« and my older sister Ada at the same time. It
was a disaster! We fought constantly until Jesse went to college and Ada was able to move into the vacated room. As stressful as the experience was,
it taught me how to live with all types of people. Now I am worried that maybe I am too used to living with other people. Coming from a place where
everything belongs to everyone, I sometimes forget that other people are bothered by someone else using their belongings.

I wasn't too worried about the college roommate situation because I could not wait to move out of my house. Every large family's household is chaotic.
Even though my siblings and I are all

Essay on My Family History
My Family History
Family history is very important to an individual. By knowing where you come from, you can have a better perspective of your life. Having a clear
understanding of your family background allows you to better appreciate the things that you would normally take for granted. The house, the car, and
the average clothing may look better when one sees the sacrifices their family has made. They will see that their family has worked very hard just so
their family can experience the better things in life. A persons roots and origin is one of the most important things to explore. It alone can bring you
closer to self–discovery.
There are two sides to a person's family and one side of my family has...show more content...
One of these is that on Thanksgiving everybody comes together to my parents' house in New Jersey for a huge feast. On Christmas only my mother and
the children (me and my brother) travel to Illinois to spend a week with my grandparents. On New Years Eve we all get together at my parents'
house in New Jersey and toast to the New Year with champagne and apple cider. During Labor Day weekend all of my family travels to South
Jersey to my grandfathers' condo. We usually spend all of our time on the beach and barbequing, except on Sunday when we go to church. After
all, my grandfather is a minister. One of our biggest family traditions is going back to Puerto Rico. Every year my mother and I travel back to
Puerto Rico for a portion of our summer vacation. Now that I am older I travel there more often and stay there much longer. My father never joins
because he doesn't like my mothers side of the father too much and he thinks that we when we speak Spanish we are all plotting against him. Of
course that's not true though. My bother doesn't speak Spanish so he doesn't like to go either. I guess that tradition is one that belongs solely to my
mother and I.
The role of the people in family basically stayed the same for most of the generations with a little change in the later generations. Earlier the males
were the only ones that worked in the family and the wife stayed at home and took care of the house and

Family Stress And Family Crisis Essay
All of us have experienced stress in our lives. Regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status, the experience of stress cannot be avoided. In our
society, there are common stressors such as starting school or a new job. Stress can come to us through simple competition, engaging in new
experiences or the loss of someone or something important to us. Some stress is unique to certain situations and individuals. For instance, the stress
related to having a disability or to being a minority is exclusive to those particular individuals and groups. This paper will define family stress and
family crisis, give examples and site the factors that differentiate the two.
By definition stress is a state of tension that requires an adjustment of some sort. Stress can be experienced physically (tight muscles, headaches, racing
heart) and emotionally (anxiety, apprehension, frustration). Family stress relates to situations that test their ability to come to a satisfactory resolution.
As noted above, stress can be the result of positive and negative experiences. The positive experience of a child's maturation, such as moving out of the
house, can create stress for all parties involved just as much as a painful injury that inhibits a family members functioning, even temporarily.
In general, the occurrence of stress fluctuates from person to person based on their coping skills. A young person who is newly independent will
experience the need to live on a tight budget

Essay about My Family Heritage
My Family Heritage
Family Defined
The word family has changed so much in the past century. A family back in the 1950's was probably considered a husband, wife, and one or more
children. Times have changed and families have become much different. The Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others book definesfamily as
a, "Unit made up of any number of persons who live in relationship with one another over time in a common living space who are usually, but not
always, united by marriage and kinship" (Beebe, Beebe & Redmond, 243). Families can be broken up into five different types. The first is the
traditional family, which includes a mother, father, and their biological children. Next, is the blended family which includes...show more content...
William, known as Bill, was born on July 20, 1921 in Minneapolis, MN. He worked in the plaster/stucco business for over 25 years before working
at Northwest Airlines. His wife's maiden name was Lorraine Mulcahy. Lorraine was born on August 13, 1922 in St. Paul, MN. Lorraine went to
college at the University of Minnesota where she got her Bachelor of Science degree and became a dental hygienist. My grandma "Lo" is the
genealogy nut in our family. She has searched for birthdates, marriage licenses, and other documents of her grandparents. I called grandma Lo to get
some information on my great–grandparents and family stories. I found out I was part Norwegian and I never even knew it! Grandma Lo's parents
were Edward Mulcahy and Olga Shermoen. Her father Ed was born on April 15, 1880 in Minneapolis, MN. Ed worked as a claim agent for the Great
Northern Railroad in the twin cities. Olga was born on March 15, 1888 in Hawley, MN. She also worked for the Great Northern Railroad as a matron.
Edward was 100% Irish while Olga was 100% Norwegian. This makes my grandma Lorraine 50% Irish & 50% Norwegian. My grandpa Bill was
adopted in Minneapolis so his genealogy is unknown. He was told by his adopted parents that he was mostly Irish. If we pretended Bill was 100%
Irish, this would make my mom 75% Irish and 25% Norwegian.
Father's side
My father's name is Gerald Otto Utz. He was born on January 23, 1950 in Springfield, MN. He is

Family and Household Essay
Family and Household
The word family comes from the Latin word familia which means household. This seems to be fitting since they both seem synonymous. In the
dictionary the definition of family is a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head or a group of persons of common
ancestry. The definition of household is those who dwell under the same roof and compose a family or a social unit comprised of those living together
in the same dwelling. Even the definitions are very similar, yet they have come to mean two very different things in our modern day world. As time
evolves so does the clarity of what makes up a family and the function of family and household are....show more content...
In the Dada tribe they live by a patri–local custom of always living with the husbands family. Although this custom sometimes causes problems
between the woman and their in–laws it is still a practice that they maintain because having the men move away would threaten the economics of their
community and their well–being (Abrams & Bishop 1994: "Family and Household").
In the Asante tribe they are also patri–local, in the sense that the new wives must move and live with their husbands family but in their customs all
inheritance is through the mother and they also practice polygamy so the fathers are often not involved with the complete well–being of their children.
Because of this many mothers set up their own individual household and create work for themselves in order to earn something to give to their children
(Abrams & Bishop 1994:"Family and Household").
Both of the above examples provide examples of how family means different things but mostly because their culture has different needs than that of
another.
The term household and how it relates to each culture is a little harder to define. In America household usually means the nuclear family and where
they reside. Household is very independent and for the most part, does not

Examples Of Theoretical Perspective On Family
Theoretical Perspectives of the Family
There are multiple lenses in which we can view the family unit. To gain a clearer understanding of our families we develop theories to explain certain
phenomenon within the family. These theoretical perspectives include the psychodynamic theory of families, family stress and coping perspective,
family resilience perspective and the family systems perspective. Throughout the course of learning about the family life cycle, I've examined these
perspectives of family in relation to my own. I've noticed elements within each perspective that parallel my own personal theory regarding my
family. One perspective that I did not thoroughly examine was the theory of resilience in the family. Resilience in the family is typically measured
when a family undergoes a major crisis, such as the loss of a loved one or unemployment (Patterson, 2002a). In terms of research, there is some
disagreement as to whether family resilience should be measured in terms of how capable is the family in overcoming such stressors, or measured in
terms of the process which is most commonly studied (Patterson, 2002b). For the purposes of the family genogram, I did not find it helpful to study
this theory in relation to my own family. Instead, I focused on the family perspective of coping with stress.
From a young age, my parents stressed the importance of viewing our family as a team. When one person is facing difficulty, everyone is responsible
for making sure the

The Intentional Family Essay Examples

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The Intentional Family Essay Examples