TRADITION!!

Traditions play a very important role in family life and also in cultures. Traditions strengthen family bonds and will draw family members closer together. They will give you strength and stability. Things may get rough in life, and if tragedy strikes then traditions can help you get through those hard times. It is something to hold on to even if everything seems to be crumbling down. Traditions give individual family members a sense of identity. Traditions can also give family members a place where they belong. As long as the tradition goes on, then that is where individual family members belong. The sense of family can be reinforced when tradition rituals are remembered and continued. This tradition can create a connection between the different generation in a family.

My family and I have many different traditions. One of my favorite traditions is on Christmas Eve all of my extended family gathers together at my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. We bring food and have dinner together. After we have dinner then we do a gift exchange, or other games. It is a ton of fun and the whole family is able to get together and bond over this special time of year. I am so much closer to my extended family because we get together like this. We are able to celebrate our family and the holidays. When I have my own family, I hope that I can continue this tradition, especially when I have grandchildren. I feel that if I continue this tradition it will bring my family closer together. 

What traditions do you and your own family have? How does it affect you? I am very interested to learn about your traditions. Please share.

Families Can Be Together Forever

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also known as Mormon. In my religion we believe that families can be together forever. We believe that a man and a woman can seal themselves together for all time and eternity. When a worthy man and woman go to our temple, they can make covenants (a two way promise between you and God) that will seal themselves together. This connection will not end "till death do you part" but will last forever. If a worthy man and woman seal themselves together, then their children will also be sealed to them. This way the family will be together forever. If tragedy strikes and a loved one is lost, the family that is sealed together will be together again once more. I am so very grateful that I am sealed to my own family and that I will be able to be with them for time and all eternity. I am also thankful that when I marry and start my own family it will not end at death, but it will last forever. 

What are your thoughts and beliefs?

The Genogram

http://www.genopro.com/genogram/

In class we have the option of creating our own genogram for our own families. We learned that "the genogram is a widely accepted means of mapping and discussing inter-generational family relations and patterns." The Website above will help you do your own genogram.

It is very important to review past generations to understand who you are, and why you are the way you are. You can spot family trends that your family have established, and also look at the different behaviors that you and your family have. It is also very important to look at past behaviors and past problems that seem to be a trend in your family. Looking at and understanding these trends, you can stop negative trends and alter future generations.

I am very curious to know what everyone thinks about this! Please comment and leave your thoughts!

The Remedy for Marital Problems

Here are some things that I learned in class today:

The remedy for almost all marital problems is not divorce, but repentance. The first step is not separation, but reform. To prevent marrying someone who is abusive, unfaithful and so many other things is to avoid marriage to such a person. If you wish to marry well, inquire well. It is important to get to know the person that you are dating, followed by a careful courtship. Fiancés should learn everything that they can about the families that they join. You don’t just marry the person, you marry the whole family. For a successful marriage, it is very important to realize that a good marriage does not require a perfect man or woman, but that they should both strive together towards perfection.

Unchangeable Laws

Some laws cannot be changed by anyone. The law of gravity for example, cannot be changed. Gravity will always be there. Even if people wanted to change it to where there was no gravity or that gravity was now to fall upwards and not downwards, there is no changing it. Marriage is one of these laws. People want to change the definition of marriage. However, like gravity, it cannot be changed. People can say what they want about it being different, but it is not possible. Marriage is and always will be between a man and a woman lawfully wedded as husband and wife. This is Heavenly Father’s law. Mankind cannot change these laws. So people can say that marriage is two partners, a genderless unit, and they can also say that gravity falls upwards, as many times as they want, but saying it does not make it true. What marriage really is will never change, so everything that is happening in the world today that says otherwise is pointless.

Myths About Family Life

In class we read from Marriage & Family: The Quest for Intimacy written by Robert H. Lauer and Jeanette C. Lauer. 

In the reading it talked about myths about family life. A few of the myths that are in the book are: 
Opposites attract
People marry because they love each other
Having children increases marital satisfaction
A good sex life is the best predictor of marital satisfaction
Happily married people don't have conflict
Half of all marriages end in divorce

These myths can be very damaging to family life. Opposites may attract but those differences that you thought were so cute at the beginning of your relationship may just break your marriage and family because they are differences that you can't or wont put up with or overcome. 
It is very good to love the person that you marry, but that should not be the only factor in your decision to marry. There are so many other factors that need to be considered in your choice to marry someone. A couple of these factors are goals and values that each person have. Couples need to share the same personal, life, and relationship goals. It is also very important for the couple to share the same values. 
Having children is very important and can be very satisfactory in a marriage and family. Unfortunately children also ads on a ton of stress as well. Children cause lack of sleep, they are very expensive, they take a lot of time and emotional strain on a parent and a relationship. Children can really take a tole on a marriage but children also strengthens a marriage when the husband and wife unite with each other to raise their child.
Having a good sex life will not keep a marriage together all by its self. It may help hold up a marriage but there needs to be a deeper connection between the couple. The relationship needs to be based off of friendship, love, respect, common goals and common values.
Just because you are happily married does not mean that there will be no conflicts. Many things will come up in a marriage that will bring conflicts, but it is important for the husband and wife to work together and build a stronger relationship. 
Not necessarily half of all marriages end in divorce. Even though many people get divorced it does not have to effect you and your marriage. Many people divorce over things that could be solved with some time and effort.  
 These myths can be very damaging to family life and marriage. There are many things that can hinder and challenge a marriage and relationship, but if the couple works together and fortify their relationship then there is nothing that will tear it down.