Family

Traditions

My family is very close.  My parents have been happily married for almost 26 years.  My sister, who is two years my senior, and I are extremely close to one another and our parents.  We have one family tradition in particular that is fairly unique to us.  My sister married last summer, and she and her husband now live a few miles away.  My family holds family dinner night weekly; family dinner night consists of my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and me having dinner, great conversations, and fun.  We schedule family dinner nights every Wednesday of each week.  If for some reason there is a conflict with Wednesday nights, it is always rescheduled instead of cancelled.  My mom always cooks a spectacular dinner and often prepares some type of appetizer.  This is a family tradition that we all hold very dear, and we intentionally make time in each of our busy schedules to ensure that it happens.  

Family Roles

The family roles that I grew up accustomed to are also the family roles that each of my parents grew up with.  Both of my parents were children of homemaker moms that tended to the house and the children after they returned from school.  Both of their fathers were the sole workers of the household.  The both grew up in southern middle-class homes, where they lived comfortably.  I think that my upbringing is largely a reflection of the upbringing of my parents.  

The family roles in my home were fairly traditional.  My dad works as a computer analyst, and my worked as an accountant, however, after giving birth to my sister, she became a stay-at-home mother.  My dad has worked at the same company since graduating from college, and he is very happy with the work that he does.  My mom has been a homemaker for 23 years, a job that she does wonderfully.  She cooks dinners every night, which are probably a reflection her southern roots as well.  As far as decision making in the home, my parents shared the responsibilities equally, always consulting one another for advice and opinions.  No large decisions are ever made by one of my parents without a previous discussion with one another.  

Beliefs

My family has a strong belief in the impact of family.  We are very connected with one another because of each of our upbringings.  My dad’s family has lived in the same city dating back at least five generations.  Stretching from that time until the present, one road in our town is filled almost completely with the houses of my relatives.  Great aunts and uncles, cousins, and further distanced relations all live within a short distance of each other.  My mom’s family, although not all from the same city, still mostly live within a few hours of one another, and her immediate family lives close in relation to one another.  Because both sides of the family are local, it’s very easy to spend time together, have frequent contact with one another, and be involved in each other’s lives.  The importance of family was instilled in my parents growing up, and it is a quality that has been well received by my sister and me.