While family trees and genealogy research are important tools for learning about one’s family history, relationships with those family members that are still living are the means by which we develop our own understanding of what the word “family” means. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, grandparents, and others whom we refer to as “family” make up a group of people that we are taught from birth are special to us. As we grow and develop relationships with these people, we learn more about them and they do in fact become special to us.
I have always enjoyed the relationships that I have with others in my family, and as an adult I have come to appreciate them even more than I was able to when I was younger. When I met my husband, one of the things that we learned about each other right away was that we both felt that our families were very important to us. This shared sense of the importance of family has always been and continues to be a cornerstone of or relationship. Although our children are young, we have already started helping them to develop relationships with extended family members. We want them to know that there is a large group of people who love and care about them, a group that they will always be a part of because they are family.
I have no doubt that the boys will begin to become aware of their family history through the relationships that they have with family members long before they even know what genealogy or family history is. They do not even realize it, but some of the things that they do at present could be remembered for years by the other people involved and could become part of our family history. For example, the adventure that we have this weekend with their G’ma, PaPa, and Auntie could result in family stories that bring warm memories and laughter for years to come. The fun part is that it is not possible to know in advance what those stories will be, they just sort of happen.
Have you taken time lately to enjoy your family relationships?
Photo by virginiamol on morguefile.com.