1. FAMILY LIFE
The people of our family take care of us and teach us about the world as we grow up.
Our parents, brothers, sisters, and other relatives love us, watch over us, give us shelter, and
protect us from harm. They offer us security, comfort, physical contact and care. Family
provides a constant in any child’s life.
Attention to each other is key. Parents pay attention to children but a child is
watching each parent as well. In doing so, children learn. Babies need care and the parent
must pick up on signals and cues from the infant because the child does not yet talk. Later, as
a child learns to walk, the child explores new places: rooms, houses, backyards, front yards,
streets, and shopping places. Life with others begins with one’s family and then moves
outward to community experience of school, church, country, planet, and universe.
Family is the place where communication begins, where behaviours are tried out, and
patterns of living are established. Of course, everyone makes mistakes but, ideally, each
member of the family is given the opportunity to learn from these mistakes. Looking in from
the outside, one sees a range of family attitudes including: good/poor dietary and exercise
habits, inclusion/exclusion of those who are different, positive/negative attitudes toward
study and education, or reverence/no need for God. The family unit is where boundaries and
expectations are learned.
Within our families not only do we learn words, we learn how to speak to others and
how to treat others. If respect is there, respect becomes a way of life, along with politeness,
good manners, ethical behaviour, and pride in family heritage with appreciation for the
culture and beliefs of others. Not all families see conflict resolution as an important issue.
Sometimes home-life and the workplace are not in balance. There are also differences
between families in regards to emotional support—either withheld until compliance with
expectations or offered through thick and thin.
Generally speaking, if parents live by the same rules as they ask of their children, then
responsibility has been taken on by the family group and all members will have similar goals
and standards. “We call when we are late.” “We put things away.” “We clean up.” “We have
the right to be taken seriously and the responsibility to listen to others.” “We keep trying.”
“We” is the operative word—not “I” or “me.”
Imperfect as family groups are, it is through our family that we learn about
attachment, about caring for others/selectively choosing whom to care for. By living in a
faith-filled family we learn that God is attached to us and that we are gifted by unconditional
love and second chances. We witness what is important and thereby deepen our
understanding of forgiveness and nurture. When parents exhibit a genuine love for God and
place Christ at the centre of the home, children will continue to see, reflect, and learn. They
still have to make their own choices, but at least they will have lived in a home where God
was an important part of the family.
Through our family, we learn who we are and what we value. Moving from a baby’s
cries and clinging for comfort or food to smiles and up-reached arms is a milestone in family
health and development. The tapestry of a family is further enriched when woven by ribbons

2. of shared experiences and descriptions of those who came before, through story-telling and
remembrances about family and mentors and friends. Sacred rhythms set out at church
through the liturgy reflect the family’s earthly rhythms set out in mealtime, playtime, worktime, story-time, Bible study, helping others, prayer, and rest.
Through God’s grace, we pay attention and grow through all ages and stages of life.
Within a family, children learn about caring for older family members and learn the values
and traditions of their particular family. Observation and imitation are part of social
interactions such as eating—getting to know others and sharing, acting upon or reacting to
human emotions, constraints, and differences. Fitting into the patterns of the family
environment, the child learns about “enough” and “not enough,” about “friend” and “enemy,”
“acceptable” and “unacceptable,” about “included” and “excluded.”
Prayer is attentiveness to God and to life. Nurturing children in the power of God’s
securing love is teaching them how to pray throughout every day and every experience. May
our children know God’s love and be able to find the peace that passes all understanding.
May all families enjoy loyalty, affection, and fun with the people who matter to them.