The Importance Of Family On My Family

I believe there’s a lot of things important in our lives, but I would like to discuss only three. Change is always happening but we adapt to it to keep living on. One thing I really believe is important is my family. That’s just one thing I believe you may think that money is important we all have different opinions. We all think somethings important but it might not be important to others. So I’m going to tell you what I think appropriate importance is to me.

Family plays an important role in every society. It is the main structure that made up a good society. Samovar, Porter & McDaniel (2015) write, “families are instrumental in teaching young people about their identities, how they fit into their culture, and where to find security” (p.73). Family is the first school in one’s life. In the early stages of our life, we learn how to eat, speak, communicate, and behave from our family, consciously and unconsciously we imitate our parents. In my religion (Islam) there is a great deal of attention to the importance of marriage and making family. Prophet Mohammad said, “The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best amongst you to my family”. Moreover, Islam assign a role to each member of the family, as parents take care of their children and the children should respect and obey their mother and father. I totally agree with Samovar, Porter & McDaniel (2015) when they mentioned that “the three most influential social organizations are (1) family, (2) state, and (3) religion” (p.70). For me, I believe that my family shapes most of my identity.

In 2012 Zach Wahls, now author and civil rights advocate for the LGBTQ community, presented a speech to the Democratic National Convention. In his dialogue, he gave insight into his normal family and the lives of the people who raised him; his mothers Jackie and Terrie (Griffith, 2014). Wahls cited that his family was like any other normal American family that ate together, shared chores and enjoyed spending quality time together, and thus initiated a conversation about family normalcy (Griffith, 2014). What makes a family a family? There are few defining characteristics such as living together, caring for any dependents and maintaining a close intimate relationship however, as we progress and encounter various social changes these factors evolve and can vary from culture to culture. The U.S Census Bureau defines the family unit as “two or more people living together who are related by birth, marriage or adoption” (Lofquist et al., 2012). This definition fails to consider families who don’t fit this mold. As Wahls mentioned in his testimony, his family consists of himself and his loving parents however a Lesbian Civil Union is not encapsulated into the definition provided by the Census Bureau. All families carry out important functions that ensures the survival of society (Benokraitis, 2015). These roles include sexual activity, procreation and socialization, economic stability, emotional safeguards, and social class placement. With definitions that limit the family, it is

Family history is something most people do not know much about. This is unfortunate because some people do not or are unable to value their families past. Family history is important for many different reasons. It can be used to meet family members a person never knew about and for educational purpose. I was fortunate enough to have my grandparents still alive to tell me about their great-grandparents and grandparents. I never truly understand how interesting and important it is to know about where my family came from until I did this project. My family consists of Polish and German immigrants.

What is genealogy? Genealogy is the study of the history of families and the line of descent from their ancestors. In other words, it is history, but on a more personal spectrum. During my research I asked myself a series of questions that shaped this paper. Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Before beginning my research I knew I would only be able to trace my family history back a generation or two. Some abandonment and adoptions took place and because of this there was very little room for me to investigate without opening up old wounds and/or hitting a dead end. I based my research on the information I found while investigating my paternal family. I chose to conduct my research on my paternal side because my mother is adopted.

Family history is very important to an individual. By knowing where you come from, you can have a better perspective of life. As I have grown up I have noticed that my entire background has influenced by who I am.

What is Family? According to the online dictionary family is all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor. I view family in a whole different perspective. The word family is a powerful and meaningful word. To me, it means people who accept you for who you are where there 's no hatred or judgement and love you unconditionally. A dog or pet can simply become family. A person who you can count on through your emotional or financial distress can also be family. Growing up my parents and siblings weren 't always supportive or loving. I’m the youngest and pretty much seeked love and attention elsewhere which made me view my friends, colleagues, pets, and counselors as family.

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.

Many people have, at least at one point in their lives, had great curiosity about family members who came before them and whom they never met. Many of us have a vague notion that we come from immigrants to America who were fleeing a famine in Ireland or war in Europe or Central America, or political persecution in other parts of the world. Still others know that they had family members from another part of the globe who came to America to search for a better life, full of more promising opportunity.

I was able to trace my family history as far back as my Great grandparents on my mother’s side. I learned some very interesting and shocking facts about their lives and the struggles they had to endure. My Great grandparents adoptive my mother and twin sister at the age 2 because their parents were unable to care for them properly. They welcomed them with open arms and raised both of them as if they were their own. My Great grandfather was named James Allen Barnes, he was one of 5 sibling who was born in March of 1913. My Great grandmother was named Miriam Etta Troxler, she was one of 4 sisters who was born in December 1915. James and Miriam were both born in Greensboro, N.C.

I can remember it like it was yesterday. This changed my life in multiple ways. Why did this have to happen to me? I did not know what to think. My mind was spinning. It felt as if I were frozen. The only answer I could come to was to just cry. This was all my fault and there was no way that it could have been anyone else's fault. My parents were getting a divorce. My life seemed as if it was crashing down directly in front of my face. How was I not supposed to see both of my parents everyday? This was the hardest thing I ever had to grow through in my life.

Mandalas are symbols engraved with a meaning that is drawn together using a centerpiece. My personal mandala is a symbol of my life, laid out are all of the passions and hobbies in my life. As my centerpiece shows, all of my activities surround family. Family has been a sturdy structure to lean on and a strong influence in my life since I was born. Unlike many things, such as friends, family will always be there for you, no matter what.

It is evident from my family tree that I don’t have a relationship with my birth parents. Due to this it impacted the way I was nurtured. The family in my mirco circle means the world to me. They have huge impact on the person I have become and growing up to be. When I was born, I was fatally sick and my birth mother left me on my death bed and never came back. I was extremely skinny and could not do basic necessity without assistance. My older sister Mardea which I now identify her as “mother” took care of me and nurse me back to life. She took care of my brother Monroe, sister Quinine and I at the age of 16. Her persistence, endurance and strength has taught me never to doubt myself and not to listen to the words of gossip and to have faith in Jesus. Being born during a civil war was a difficult thing for my family and I. As the treatment needed for my recovery was limited. Hearing bombs, gunshots and crying everyday was a traumatising thing to hear as a young child. I remember one day when my “mother” left my siblings and I to find food for us to eat. A bullet from a flying helicopter shot her in a leg luckily missing her nerves. An off duty took her in and nursed her. My siblings 8 and I 4 were at home with nothing to eat and no mother with a war going on the other side of the door.

Finding who you are throughout a lifetime is one of the most challenging thing to discover. However, in my case, family is the most important part of all when it comes to who am I today. My past structured my life as how it is right now and I am great full for it. My identity is not completed but let me tell you at lease, who I’ve become today. My family is quite unique but I can talk about four sociological concepts that demonstrates the relation towards my identity.

To begin, my immediate family includes my mom, dad, and I. When I am asked about my family its hard not to include my extended family, because they are a huge part of my life. I didn’t just grow up with my parents I lived with my grandma, uncles, and cousins. The closeness there is in Hispanic families with extended family is something I take pride in. Growing up I would say my parents were part of the working class, and now they are part of the middle class. I’ve seen my parents reach that status with their hard work. I could honestly go on and on about my family, because to me they are my pride and joy.