Gary suggested this month that we include a series of post from the kids' perspective allowing them to share their thoughts on various topics. Today he asked them the questions "What makes a family?" and "What is unique about your own family?"
Katherine
What makes a family?
A family is lots of people being with each other. Families always have heart and love each other. Mothers and Daddys having children count as a family. They can be big, medium, or small. They do things together like play together and share stuff. Sometimes they have fights and some families don't. They don't fight about the important things very often.
What is unique about your own family?
I don't know what makes our family unique. Maybe that we all like having brothers and sisters. I think everyone likes their family, but not as much as we do.
Rebecca
What makes a family?
I'm not sure how to answer this question. A family is group of people who are related by blood or adoption. They live together and sometimes they play games together. A good family has love.
What is unique about your own family?
We have a very big family, that's for sure. What makes us special is that we been in a lot of different houses, but no matter where we move we are always together. Lots of kids go to school but we are homeschooled and that's special because we get to do more stuff together.
Ruth
What makes a family?
I think what makes a family is communication, space, and support. You need to be able to talk to your family - have causal conversations, joke with them, and pick fun at them, but also you need to be able to have serious conversations with them as well. Space is important because if you are around each other too much it can actually push you apart because no one wants you in their business 24/7, because you need to be able to grow as your own individual people. Support is important, even if they make a decision that you might not. You can tell them what you would do and why, but you need to be supportive no matter what they choose because they are still their own person, but you support them out love and mutual respect because they are your family.
What is unique about your own family?
What makes our family special or different are the stupid and weird inside jokes that we always have going on. For example, Rebecca has some 90 odd nicknames instead of her name, or how I of course am the Main Character of Life Itself, and Britt the background character is always trying to usurp my role. Also, my siblings, cousins, even uncle is convinced that I've been adopted from Great Britain. This is preposterous but hilarious as well. I think it's the little things that make your own family special to you. Because without them you are still a family that still looks alike, lives together, and are a family, but there is nothing special that makes your family unique to you. If you are part of the family and have those little inside jokes that are normal but not normal at the same time, it makes your family special.
Britt
What makes a family?
People that are close to you, not necessarily blood lines, but those with who you share companionship and close ties. I do think a blood line should be honored, and you should have a legacy, but family is more than just that. A house divided against itself cannot stand, but in the same vein a house that is firmly together is strong. A family should be together in religion, mostly similar in politics, and an ideals set. How can you approach life in the same lens if you don't have an agreement on the foundation ideas.
What is unique about your own family?
We have a Ruth and she is adopted from Great Britain. No, seriously, our family is special because despite all of us siblings being so different and approaching problems differently, we still agree on important matters. Some families everyone is so similar in their looks and approach to life, but that's not us. Also my incredible jokes that no one appreciates makes us special too.
Final Summary
It was definitely interesting to get the kids thoughts on what family meant and how they see our own family as unique. It makes us stop and consider how we are investing in this little family of ours and what we take time to nurture. It's a big responsibility, but also a great joy.
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