Andrew comes from a two-parent biological family with his parents married for 33 years and two children. While most of his friends come from similar family structures, some friends come from non-traditional families. His family is close but communication is usually only directly between involved parties. They value independence but also desire closeness. The family teaches a strong work ethic and helping others. They prioritize large family gatherings and traditions like fishing. Mothers are nurturers and fathers are breadwinners and logical thinkers. Conflicts are usually resolved through compromise.

1. Andrew Black
CMS 332 Spring 2012

2.  Two-Parent Biological family. My parents have been
married for 33 years, producing two children; myself
and my sister Abby.

3.  Most of my friends come from a similar family type,
but with the definition of a family being varied greatly,
some exist within a non-traditional family.

4.  My family has always been close, but our lines of communication tend to be
restricted to those directly involved; if it did not involve my sister, she was not
included in the discussion.
 Our level of cohesion among the family would be categorized as connected –
each member maintaining emotional independence as well as a sense of
involvement and belonging within the family. There is a shared desire for
closeness and independence. (Galvin, Bylund, Brommel p31)

5.  My family was raised with the
understanding that you work hard for
what you want, nothing is handed
out. My family is relatively well off,
but nothing is handed out. We had to
work as soon as we were able to, to
learn the value of hard work.
 Other centered – my family has
always placed heavy emphasis on
helping others: we spent a summer
renovating our church’s parsonage to
help make a new home for our new
minister. I volunteer coach boy’s
lacrosse and my sister has been a
frequent volunteer with the Big
Brothers/Big Sister’s program

6.  Family gatherings – my family has always made it a point to hold large
family gatherings, going through the effort to host and prepare. They
realize that time with my elder grandparents is limited, and that
getting everyone together is something that means a lot to everyone

7.  Fishing with my father – something he always did with his dad,
something that he passed down as a ritual for us

8.  Household skills – my father also learned handyman skills from his father, and
passed this onto me so that I could be self sufficient and be able to view my
work and be proud of what I have done.

9.  Mother – homemaker, nurturer,
emotional support. She is handy
like my father, but more detail
oriented.
 Father- bread winner, the logical
thinker within the family. Plans
out everything twice before doing
anything

10.  Abby- like my father, plans everything and sweats every detail. She is the logical one,
lacking a bit of emotional connection to things that she should have. She is the ‘golden
child’ with the ideal job, graduating college early, and excelling at everything she does.
 Me – I am the bit of the wandering soul, not worrying too much about anything, but still
trying to find where I fit. A hard worker and quick learner, and by far the most laid back
member of my family.

11.  Decisions were made by both mother and father. Daily
decisions were made by my mother as my father was
frequently away on business Large decisions were
discussed between the two of them. My sister and I
knew that if we wanted something small, we would ask
my father, and anything slightly more, my mother. But
never to ask them both. If one says no, asking the
other would always yield the question, ‘did you ask
your mother/father’

12.  Conflict was usually resolved with a compromise. The family realizes
that there is need for showing concern for one self as well as others.
The good part about the family is that we see the need to resolve
conflict, rather than avoid it completely (Galvin, Bylund, Bromell p213)

13.  My personal definition of a family is a group that mutually aids in each other’s personal
growth, supports and encourages triumphs, is there to assist with shortcomings, and to
work together to become better people. Family does not have to be defined as two
parents and kids, but a caring structure that supports each other. I am fortunate to have a
mother and father that want to be more involved in my life than I really want sometimes,
but it is better than the alternative. My sister and I have a relatively distant day to day
relationship, but I know that if I needed her, she would be here. While the relationship
between my wife and I is changing, I know that even once things change, she will still be
there if I needed her.

14.  ‘Family Communication: Cohesion and Change’
Galvin, Bylund, Brommel. Pearson, 2012.