FAMILY

In ages past, the word "family" usually represented safety, familiarity, acceptance and love. For most people this concept remains valid although in today's changing and often confusing world the very idea of "family" may be part of an ongoing controversy.

What exactly IS a family? Is it defined only by blood ties? Are there strict rules about what can be considered a family and what cannot? What about the catchphrase "family values?" Who defines what those values are?

In spite of all this, the search for ways to connect with those we call family - ways to have family fun, to have a happy family life and perhaps even take family trips in spite of rising costs and lower income - all of this has become more important than ever.
We all know that when times are tough family love may make the difference between hope and despair. But many are concerned about whether families can go on providing this emotional support to one another when there are so many challenges to what used to be a taken-for-granted source of survival and meaning.

But maybe this situation is not all bad. Look, for instance, at the expression used in the last sentence of our previous paragraph. Think about the words "taken-for-granted." Think about it in the context of any relationship that you have. Yes, there is a sense of comfort in knowing that we can take a relationship "for granted" and not worry about whether it is going to be there for us. But is being "taken for granted" always good for a relationship in the long run? Does this kind of attitude lead to the most fulfilling and dynamic type of relationship? Or can it sometimes lead to lack of appreciation and a kind of going-through-the-motions at mandatory family events?

Maybe the challenges that face families today can be an occasion for us to think about what kind of family we want to have and what that term really means for us. That kind of thinking could lead to a much more fulfilling family life for all of us.

Websites

Sesame Street online Fun for young and old in the family

PBS A time honored a valuable resource for the family. 

Official and Factual Little House on the Prairie website.

Family census and genealogy information.

Great site about planning a family vacation.

Do fun crafts with your family. This is a great way to teach and grow with your family.