When I Was Born Into A Close Family

As I endured the prospect of creating a genogram, I allowed myself to reflect and interpret the history and impacts that affected my family. During my review of my genogram, I was able to consider my family within a multigenerational, diverse, and socio-political context. By creating a genogram, a dialogue was started within my head and with my partner about which family traits, issues, strengths, and resiliencies made me who I am today. Subsequently, this dialogue made me aware that being raised in a small family has many advantages along with some disadvantages when acquiring information about influences and the history of preceding generations. Consequently, I did not have to contend with many conflicting recollections but I did have to rely mostly on my own memory, public records, and journals to piece together my genogram. Although all things discovered and recollected are not always fortunate on the surface, they subsist as basis to my personal resilience and strength as a gay man.

I grew up with both of my parents and three siblings, my family is extremely close, so close that everyone needs a break from one another from time to time. My family is far from perfect, I am not the oldest child but I always took on that role as being the oldest sibling. The one who watches my two younger siblings when both of my parents weren’t home. My older brother Aubrey was supposed to be the one who watched over us but he never did. He spent his days locked away in his room, or nat at the house at all. Taking on the role of almost a mother figure to my younger siblings was difficult. I had to learn to be selfless and not just think for myself at an early age. When my mom didn’t come home till after twelve to escape my dads drunkness or my dad was laying out drunk in the bedroom. I was the one who fed my little brother and sister. I was the one who cleaned up the room the three of us shared. I was the one who helped them with their homework, who did my little sister's hair. I didn’t realize how much mature I became because of this responsibility till I was in high school and was referred to as Mom by the basketball team. I’ve always thought that I was the same as any teen immature, reckless, and carefree. That wasn’t the case at all I had many responsibilities like babysitting my siblings,washing and folding our clothes, making sure they get their chores done. I did this because I knew my father drank because of our financial situation, not being able to pay the

This assignment covers a personally sensitive subject in my family, which is the dynamic, roles, and contributions of the family members. My family is, for a lack of better words, dysfunctional, toxic, and or chaotic. Of course, I did not realize this growing up, especially that it was all mainly due to the above subjects. I did not understand that not every family screams, fights, demeans, or condescends the way my family did until I started going over to other friends’ houses and getting to experience the vastly different dynamics. These past few years, most of my immediate family members and I have come to serious realizations about our family. It consists of my emotionally and mentally abusive, narcissistic, “main provider” father (Robert “Bubba”, 50 years old), my overly-coddling, superhero of a mother (Kelly, 49 years old), my combative, narcissistic, bold, unique older sister (Kayla, 24 years old), me, the overly emotional and sensitive, sarcastic, peacekeeping basketcase, (Abby, 20 years old), and two younger, misbehaving, shy, obnoxious, adorable twin sisters (Emma and Sarah, 11 years old.) My mom, dad, older sister, and younger sisters all live together in DeMotte, Indiana, and I live in a house in West Lafayette, Indiana, however, for the sake of this assignment, I will consider us all part of one household before I moved out on my own.

My family? You actually want to use these few minutes to read about my family? Well, let me just say one thing: we are all so, very different. So, making connections is easier said than done. Yet, I have made a few crucial connections with my cousin Hayley, my cousin P.J., and my mother.

In 1866 just before the family was to leave for America she was badly burned. Some of

“Family” is a bit of a weird word for me. It is portrayed as so fundamentally important, “Your family is always there for you.” Movies and televisions shows spin stories about love, about fighting but always making up in the end, about unwavering support and caring. When it’s time to give thanks, be it in a speech or a written blurb, people always thank their families. I did when I was a little kid and had to write little biographies for shows, but that hasn’t happened in a long time. I was one of the only (if not the only) people in my graduating class to not mention their family in their senior thanks. During my church “Coming of Age” program I was the only one who didn’t list family as one of the most important things in my life, and my mother noticed. She was upset. My father doesn’t understand why I don’t go to my aunt or grandparents when I need a favor. “They’re your family!” That’s a loaded phrase.

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

As long as I can remember, these family dinners have been a frequent occurrence in my life. Family dinner is not always about staying up to date with everyone. It is a place to get advice and to learn how to tackle a new obstacle in life. Sure, it is a good site to get updates in everybody's life, but I value the advice given. For example, my uncle has told me to “keep my legs tucked in, lean back and sit in the water to let the boat pull you up”. This advice helped me eventually get up on one water ski. The lake has been one of the most important aspects of my life and it has helped me grow as a person, learning values and gaining advice through family time spent near the lake. Looking back at all my times spent on the lake with my family and extended family it is only then I realize how important it was to my development as a person. Also looking back I notice that I have a close relationship with my cousins, aunts and uncles which I attribute to spending time at lake.

Talking about family has different meanings for me. As life goes on, I have come to discover

We all have grandparents, but mine is an especially are a big part of my family. Our grandparents do not live close to us, so it’s great when we get to see them. It's especially tough since our family is so far apart. Family is the most important thing in our family. This time was an especially important to our family for a number of reasons.

Family- a single word, with many different meanings. People have many ways of defining a family and what being a part of a family means to them. Families differ in terms of economic, cultural, social, and many other facets, but what every family has in common is that the people who call it a family are making clear that those people are important in some way to the person calling them his family.

I grew up in a small family in India. There were a plenty of things that I was able to learn from my family. I wouldn’t be here, where I am now, without my family. Family defines the most important things in this world. Family is the place where everyone can learn and express the things they learn. I’m grateful for my family. But I still remember the time my parents told me that “we are going to America, the land of dreams.” I was only thirteen years old then. All those years, I lived in my own country, and quickly moving to America was really hard for me. When I came to know this, it was really shocking to me, I couldn’t stop thinking about my life in America. I never stopped to think about the people I was leaving behind, my companions,

Every family has its calling. Some of these families calling are to farm or to travel the world. My family, on the other hand, feel that their reason they were placed on this earth is to help children who can’t help themselves. Children who have been mistreated by the people they call parents or the children who don’t have anyone to call family. John Ruskin was said, “Give a little love to a child, and get a great deal back.”

I will never forget the day I walked downstairs at two in the morning. I stood in the doorway of my parent’s bedroom watching my parents crying their eyes out while yelling at my sister. "How could this happen to you? Why did you want to do this? Why did I get a call from the cops at two in the morning saying that you were thinking about killing yourself," my mom yells, fiercely shaking in fear. "I hate my life," my sister screams back at them practically swimming in her own tears. By this point, both of my brothers have awoken and are now standing alongside me witnessing this heartbreaking scene. "But why Casey," my dad softly says, trying to hold it together. My sister begins to yell again, "Because people are constantly texting me making fun of me, telling me I 'm a whore and saying that I should just kill myself because no one actually likes me." As soon as she finishes her sentence my Mom drops to the floor crying. I along with my other brother immediately start crying as well. The only thought that came to my head is why would someone as perfect as she, hate her life so much to want to end it. To better understand cyber bullying, it 's crucial to look at the causes and effects it has on teenagers.

I have been fortunate enough to have grown up in a content and supportive family. My parents are still married, my grandparents, and even some great grandparents, survived to see me grow up, and I have a good relationship with my immediate and extended family. My family and my experiences with them have formed me into the person that I am today. Despite having an average, middle class, white picket fence life, my family is not as ordinary as they seem on the surface.