essay on a family gathering

Essay on Family Gathering

Students are often asked to write an essay on Family Gathering in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Family Gathering

What is a family gathering.

A family gathering is when many family members meet. It could be for a holiday, a birthday, or just because they want to see each other. This event is full of talking, eating, and fun. It helps everyone feel close and happy.

Activities at Family Gatherings

At these events, families often eat meals together, play games, and share stories. Children might run around playing tag, while adults might sit and chat. Sometimes, they take pictures to remember the day.

Why Family Gatherings Matter

These gatherings are important because they bring people who love each other together. They make family bonds stronger and create memories that last forever. Everyone leaves feeling loved and connected.

250 Words Essay on Family Gathering

A family gathering is when many family members come together to spend time with each other. It could be for a meal, a special holiday, or just to catch up. It’s like a big group hug that includes grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and sometimes friends who feel like family.

Why Family Gatherings are Special

These events are special because they give everyone a chance to share stories, laugh, and create memories. At a family gathering, you might see your cousin who lives far away or hear your grandma tell tales from when she was young. It’s a time when the love in a family shines brightly.

At these events, families do fun things together. They might eat a big meal, play games, or sing and dance. Some families have traditions like playing a certain sport or cooking a special dish that everyone looks forward to.

Challenges and Solutions

Sometimes, it can be hard to get along with everyone at a family gathering. Maybe two people don’t agree on something, or someone is feeling shy. The key is to be kind, try to understand each other, and remember that being together is what’s important.

The Joy of Being Together

In the end, family gatherings are about love and connection. They remind us that no matter what happens in life, we have a group of people who care about us. These gatherings fill our hearts with joy and give us stories to tell for years to come.

500 Words Essay on Family Gathering

A family gathering is a special time when people who are related to each other come together. This could be for a holiday, a birthday, or just because they want to see each other. It’s like a big group hug that includes grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and sometimes even close friends who feel like family.

The Joy of Meeting

Imagine walking into a house full of your favorite people. You can see their smiles and hear their happy voices. This is what happens at a family gathering. You get to meet relatives you haven’t seen in a long time. Kids might find new playmates in their cousins, and adults catch up on each other’s lives. It’s a time to share stories, laugh, and make new memories.

Food and Feasts

One of the best parts of a family gathering is the food. Tables are often filled with delicious dishes that everyone enjoys. Sometimes, each family brings a special meal to share. This is not just about eating; it’s also about showing love. When people cook for each other, they are saying, “I care about you.” Sharing food brings everyone closer together.

Games and Fun

At family gatherings, there can be a lot of fun activities. People might play board games, card games, or outdoor games like tag or soccer. These games are not just about winning. They help family members bond and enjoy each other’s company. When you play together, you learn to work as a team and support each other.

Traditions and Customs

Every family has its own special traditions. These are things they do at every gathering that makes it unique. It could be singing a certain song, telling stories, or even a group dance. These customs are important because they help keep the family’s history alive. Kids learn about where they come from and feel a part of something big and beautiful.

Goodbyes and Promises

All gatherings come to an end, and it’s time to say goodbye. This can be a sad moment because you don’t know when you’ll see each other again. But it’s also a time for making promises to stay in touch and plan the next meeting. Hugs are given, and good wishes are shared. Everyone leaves with a full heart and a smile, looking forward to the next family gathering.

Family gatherings are a wonderful part of life. They are times filled with joy, laughter, and love. People of all ages come together to share food, play games, and keep traditions alive. Even when it’s time to say goodbye, there is happiness in knowing that the family will gather again. These moments are treasures that keep the family strong and connected.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Family Gatherings: Promoting Bonds to Last a Lifetime

By: Author Dr. Patrick Capriola

Posted on Published: September 30, 2019

The family meal has always been a special time for families. It’s known to give families a sense of belonging and togetherness.

It just goes to show that many families know they don’t need to a big event to have a family gathering.

What is a Family Gathering? A family gathering is an event or activity that happens regularly and brings families together for bonding. A family gathering can be minor (like a share nightly dinner) or major (like reunions). Family gatherings are essential for healthy family development and relationship building.

A family gathering as small as the family meal may not seem that important, but research suggests the bonds formed during these gatherings are essential for a child’s development.

Studies show family gatherings positively impact the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of all family members, especially the youngest ones ( source ).

Before going into the details, it is essential to understand how researchers define family gatherings.

They usually divide gatherings into two categories: routines and rituals. One is an ordinary action, while the other is special, but both are important.

In nearly every case, regular contact with family members through routines and rituals has a positive effect on child development, and that’s why they are so meaningful.

In fact, family gatherings can even protect children when going through stressful situations ( source ).

Family Routines as Family Gatherings

Routines are necessary, assigned tasks to family members. Really, they are just things that need to happen.

Establishing positive routines is one way to engage in healthy family gatherings.

These simple, repetitive actions are often positive, but if parents aren’t careful, they can also harm the family.

Routines, such as getting the mail or getting ready in the morning, can create a rhythm of life, a sense of normalcy, and a place in the family, while negative routines involving abuse or marital dysfunction can cause chaos and stress. 

Sophia’s mother, Lauren, packs a lunchbox meal for her daughter every night so that it will be ready in the morning.

This activity is something that must be done, and nothing much is said or thought about it. That makes packing her daughter’s lunchbox a routine. 

If Sophia did not have a lunch to take with her, however, she would have nothing to eat while at school.

That means even a simple routine like this has a significant impact, and it shows Sophia that her mother cares about her welfare.

If instead of packing a lunch each day, Lauren told Sophia she eats too much and doesn’t need to eat lunch, that would be a negative routine.

Lauren may not think about what she is saying, or she may think she is helping Sophia, but constant criticism and punishment is unhealthy and does not bring the family closer. 

Family Rituals as Family Gatherings

If routines are essential, what are family rituals, and why are they important too?

Like routines, rituals are repeated activities, but they hold a special place in the heart of a family.

Family gatherings that are considered rituals can include celebrations, traditions, or even daily activities between two or more members if the activities are considered special in some way ( source ).

One family’s celebration of holidays, for example, will be very different from another’s.

That difference is what makes each ritual unique. The ritual tells family members who they are, both as a family and as a part of the family. 

Sophia’s family always celebrates Thanksgiving together in a very special way.

All the members of her family are there, from cousins to her great-grandmother.

Every year, they gather around the fireplace and sing the family’s favorite songs from generations ago. 

Then it’s time for each member of the family to say something they are thankful for, beginning with the oldest family member and ending with the youngest.

After that, Jorge carries on the family tradition of carving the turkey, while Lauren brings out the family’s secret-recipe stuffing.

Even though there are no presents, Thanksgiving is Sophia’s favorite holiday because she gets to see all the relatives and play with her cousins.

The family ritual is special to her because it helps her understand her big family, their values, and their culture. When she is grown, she will continue the ritual. 

The Relationship Between Routines and Rituals

The line begins to blur between routines and rituals when ordinary activities gain special meanings. 

A classic example of this overlap is the family dinner, and that’s because it is almost universal. 

For several years now, Jorge stops by the store on his way home from work to pick up food for that night’s dinner.

Since he does this nearly every night, and since he doesn’t even think about it anymore, his shopping is considered a mealtime routine. That is not a hard-and-fast rule, however.

Gathering food, meal preparation or the meal itself could be considered a family ritual because it could contain items, conversations, or other actions that are considered special to that family ( source ).

If both of Sophia’s parents love to grocery shop or cook, and it is their special time to discuss the events of the day or pass on the tradition to their young children, the actions would then be considered a family ritual.

Likewise, if when Jorge and Lauren sit down with their her at the dinner table to discuss the events of the day, to encourage each other, or to engage in a religious tradition, it is also considered a family ritual. 

It is also possible for a family ritual, such as dinnertime, to become a routine.

For that to happen, the ritual loses meaning and importance. If Sophia’s family used to look forward to mealtimes, but now they no longer interact with each other, for example, it is no longer special.

It is a non-nurturing routine that no longer helps family members bond. 

How Family Gatherings Benefit Children

There are several reasons why family gatherings are so essential to create healthy relationships:

• Family gatherings strengthen family and individual identity
• Family gatherings create stability 
• Family gatherings help children with physical and mental health issues

Family Gatherings Strengthen Identity

As children grow, they try to make sense of the world. Most of that understanding comes from experiences with the world around them, and that includes family members.

Family gatherings help children understand who they are and what their role is in the family.

In fact, a child’s self-image can be significantly impacted by those family experiences, so it is important to take gatherings seriously. 

Sophia is the youngest child in her family, and she has two older brothers, Jacob and Lucas.

Her brothers already had established roles in the family, so Sophia needed to find hers.

Jorge, her father, made sure Sophia was included in family gatherings, such as dinnertime. 

Sophia’s father taught her how to set the table, and that became her routine.

It always gave her a sense of accomplishment, even if she wasn’t always excited about doing it. When it came to the actual dinner, Sophia had a role too. 

Lauren would ask each child to say one good thing that happened at school that day, and Sophia always went last.

Going last each time helped Sophia understand her role as the youngest member of the family.

It meant she was supposed to respect older family members.

At the same time, since Sophia also had a chance to tell her story and was not left out, she knew her experiences were valued as much as her siblings. 

Giving each child a role to play in family gatherings, whether it’s gathering wood for the campout or tying the bows on presents, gives them a sense of belonging.

It helps them feel valued and motivates them to participate in future family activities. 

Family Gatherings Create Stability 

There is another benefit to a child’s healthy sense of self, and that has to do with stability.

The world is not always a happy, friendly place, but research has shown that children with regular routines and positive family rituals are more well-adjusted than their peers ( source ).

Regular bedtimes are an excellent example of a healthy routine. Sophia knows her bedtime is at 9:00, and that time is treated consistently.

When she was little, there was no set time, and she had both a difficult time going to sleep and staying asleep. 

Once her parents learned about the importance of routines, Sophia benefited and now sleeps through the night.

Children thrive in a predictable world with predictable boundaries .

It helps them feel safe and secure. Not only that, but all family members benefit psychologically.

Healthy family rituals also help children feel safe. Dinnertime at Sophia’s house also includes time for her and her brothers to discuss anything that is troubling them.

All three siblings know their traditional family dinner is a safe place to discuss their feelings and seek help from their parents. 

Just knowing that each day, she has that safe place to discuss her feelings helps Sophia feel loved, secure, and protected.

She feels like her parents listen to her, and that is special. 

Family Gatherings Help Children with Mental Health Issues

So far, the discussion has been about ordinary families, but what if one or more children are dealing with health issues?

How do family gatherings impact a child’s health?

It is important to know that routines and rituals offer stability not only in everyday life but also when things are stressful. 

Studies have focused on the positive impact family gatherings have on adolescents ( source ).

With so much at stake, what can parents do? While it is a complex issue, positive routines and rituals can make a significant impact.

In fact, regular, positive family gatherings have been shown to lower incidences of emotional and behavioral problems.

Sophia’s older brother, Jacob, is dealing with other students who are being mean to him at school, and the situation is very stressful. Fortunately, because of family routines and rituals, he knows he is not alone.

When Lauren drops Jacob off at school one day, she can tell he is anxious, and that the familiar routine is not quite right. 

Jacob tells her about these students, and she discusses the situation with school officials.

When Lauren picks him up from school that afternoon, she tells him what she did to help, and allows him to speak.

She uses both the morning and afternoon routines to communicate with her son and give him the support he needed. 

Later that night, the family dinner ritual continues. All three children tell the family something positive from that day, and then they discuss problems.

Jacob brings up what has happened so far, and all the family members discuss the issue together. 

By the end of dinner, Jacob feels better.

He knows his family cares and will be there for him.

Family gatherings may not eliminate the cause of stress, but it will help children learn how to cope with stress.

Family gatherings help family members create positive bonds that lead to a better sense of self-worth .

Studies have also shown that healthy interactions help with even more serious mental health issues such as depression.

Positive family relationships assist with psychological maturity, identity, and self-worth in girls, who are more likely than boys to suffer from depression.

On the other hand, a study conducted in 2002 showed that adolescents with less involvement in family gatherings were more likely to use mental health services. 

It is eye-opening to see just how much family routines and rituals affect the mental health of children.

Family Gatherings Help Children with Physical Health Issues 

Families are sometimes affected by sudden or chronic health issues as well. Once again, family gatherings can add a sense of normalcy in a difficult situation. 

More families are faced with chronic health issues than in years past, and that means more families are faced with the challenges of maintaining a sense of normalcy amid change ( source ). 

Studies show that families who adopt routines and rituals or who create new, positive family gatherings are much more likely to show resilience. 

Sophia’s oldest brother, Lucas, has cancer. While their family tries to keep as many family gatherings the same as they were before, that is not always possible.

Sometimes Lucas is too sick to participate in the family dinner, so before dinnertime begins, the family comes to his room and goes through their conversational rituals together before going to the dinner table. 

Lucas is very aware of his illness, but this adaptation of a cherished ritual means the world to him.

When he is home from the hospital, his parents do all they can to create a sense of normalcy for everyone, and it helps them all cope with the stress. 

Creating new routines and rituals are a part of this new reality, and they can provide a great deal of comfort.

When Lucas has chemotherapy treatments, his parents have created a new ritual. One of them is always there to hold Lucas’s hand for the entire procedure.

They talk about happy memories and tell jokes. Afterward, they let him choose a movie for the family to watch at home, and when he feels well enough, they all watch it together. 

Issues that Affect Family Gatherings

Several factors can negatively impact family gatherings. In most cases, it’s really a matter of how those factors are managed.

Studies have shown work schedules and parental changes all have some effect, but those effects were not always the same. 

Work schedules have changed a great deal in the past half-century. In 2016, women spent approximately 25 hours a week in paid positions, compared to 9 hours a week in 1965.

On a positive note, mothers an average of 14 hours per week on childcare, compared to 10 hours per week in 1965. Fathers have also increased their role in childcare ( source ). 

That means spending more time at work does not necessarily mean less time with the family. 

In addition to both parents working, the number of parents working at more than one job or nontraditional hours is up.

While working is part of adult life, planning is required to have meaningful family gatherings.

Parental changes (separation, divorce, etc.) can have a much more significant effect on the family because the actual family structure is altered.

The adverse effects of separation and divorce are well-documented, but one thing parents may not consider is the impact they have on family gatherings.  

Important family rituals, such as holiday traditions, birthdays, and vacations, will face disruption.

The good news is when parents and stepparents work together to maintain and form new routines and rituals, the children adapt more quickly.

Final Thoughts 

Family gatherings, whether they are large or small, matter… a lot.

They provide boundaries, identity, and stability for children, which in turn will prepare them for and protect them from the stresses of life.

If they feel safe and loved at home, and if there is excellent communication, children will turn to their parents, rather than friends for advice and wisdom.

As a parent, I couldn’t wish for more. 

Family Gathering Definition, Meaning, And Examples

A family gathering is a family meeting for dinner, lunch, or during festivals or weddings, but it does not have to include all of your extended family members. In fact, a family get-together might consist of just a few family members. A family gathering is more informal as opposed to a family reunion which is more formal and typically involves the entire extended family on one or more sides.

Family spending time together has always been considered a special time that promotes a sense of togetherness and unity. Family gatherings are an excellent way to get family members together for a good time and (usually) some good food.

When you think of family gatherings, what comes to mind? I imagine memorable occasions or holidays where the entire family is seated and engaged in conversation, or perhaps they are all cooking together. There are many reasons why family gatherings are important and many ways that they can be held.

Related Reading: What Does a “New Addition to the Family” Mean? [FIND OUT]

The Definition and Meaning of a Family Gathering

A family gathering is a regular social event or practice that brings family members together for the purpose of bonding. A family gathering can be small, such as a birthday party, or large, such as a wedding celebration. Family gatherings are critical for developing a healthy family unit and the formation of strong bonds.

It can be supper or just an occasion where families get together and spend time with one another. There is no particular cause for a family gathering. It could be an engagement announcement, a dinner party, or any other occasion where family members meet face to face. Family gatherings are usually confined to a subset of the family, such as parents, siblings and their spouses, and their children.

Grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, uncles, and aunts are also usually invited and expected to be at family gatherings. Alternatively, family reunions are more formal, larger gatherings of relatives (distant and close) who want to spend time together and share their experiences.

Although family gatherings mostly consist of blood relatives or spouses, close friends can also be considered family and may be invited to attend family gatherings.

Why Are Family Gatherings Important?

Family gatherings play an important role in society. Here are some of the reasons why gatherings should be an integral part of families.

Children Are Provided with Role Models

Having family gatherings so that your children can bond with their relatives allows them to learn from the (hopefully) good examples set before them. Children usually respect and admire their relatives, and they enjoy hearing about their experiences and lifestyles.

These tales are a part of their heritage, and they will provide children with insight into what they may face later in life and how to overcome obstacles. Children should be given the opportunity to understand their lineage and family history and what life was like for earlier generations.

Our forefathers and mothers endured hardships so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today. It’s always fascinating to sit and listen to the older generation’s “survival” stories. Each time, you can learn something new from them and grow to know them better.

Connecting with older relatives will also assist your children in gaining a better understanding of the challenges they are now dealing with. We are the best role models for our children. Children learn from our actions, and one of them is showing that we respect family bonds.

Children learn that family is important through things such as organizing or attending a family gathering. In contrast, if you don’t make time for family gatherings, it’s unlikely that your children will.

Children can begin to see how they are the continuation of generations of individuals by participating in family gatherings. They will feel loved and connected to a larger group of individuals. In their extended family, they might find some new good role models.

Related Reading: Are Single Fathers “Better” Parents? [WE DISCUSS]

Family Gatherings Help Create Lasting Memories

Family reunions are occasions for making memories, which is especially significant if you live in a different country from the majority of your family members. Your children will remember the days you all spent together in years to come.

It might be challenging to arrange downtime with our own families in our hurried daily lives. It’s considerably more difficult to schedule time with extended family . On the other hand, a large family gathering or reunion allows us an opportunity to appreciate the importance of staying in touch with distant relatives.

It’s the perfect opportunity for us to take a moment to appreciate those who are closest to us. Family reunions provide an opportunity to disconnect from your obligations and focus on the people who make life worthwhile.

At any kind of family gathering, you’ll likely have the chance to engage in stimulating discussions and share memories and laughter. You’ll make wonderful memories and develop strong relationships that will last a lifetime for you and your children.

Family Milestones Should Be Celebrated

Getting together around a key family milestone can be beneficial for certain families. You can commemorate a significant event, such as a wedding, graduation, or anniversary, by hosting a family gathering.

For those who must travel long distances to participate, the pleasure of a family gathering can help lessen the hardship of travel. If you’re arranging a family gathering around a special occasion, you’ll need to plan beforehand. You’ll probably want to plan separate gatherings or activities from any milestone-related celebrations.

Family Gatherings Lead to Strengthened Family Bonds

A family reunion is an excellent way to meet relatives you’ve never met before. You can expose your children to cousins who could become lifelong buddies. In addition, children can meet adult relatives who can help and advise them in the future. Furthermore, children constantly benefit from knowing more people who are positive role models.

Family reunions are vital whether you hold them frequently or once every few years. When a family works together to achieve a goal or shares a meal, they can strengthen their relationships. While today’s technology makes it simpler to stay in touch with family, remember that social media or FaceTime calls are no substitute for a face-to-face family gathering.

Family Gatherings Provide a Feeling of Security

Furthermore, such gatherings provide a sense of security to family members. It gives everyone in the family confidence, for example, when they see their inflated number, which includes grandparents, uncles, and nieces.

According to studies, family gatherings improve all family members’ physical, intellectual, and emotional health, particularly the children. Family gatherings can give a family a sense of connection and security.

This is particularly true for kids, who rely on predictability and routine. Time spent as a family will create a sense of belonging, support, and connection that will continue far into adulthood. Because of this family time, positive behavior increases, and negative behavior is minimized. Children who spend time with their healthy families have better mental health and self-esteem.

Related Reading: 8 Reasons We Need A Family & Their Support

Family Gatherings Can Help Broken Relationships Mend

Family gatherings can assist in mending shattered bonds between family members. Perhaps nothing compares to family unity, love, understanding, and a sense of belonging. When the entire family comes together, it is the greatest time to resolve past grievances. It aids in the resolution of any family conflict.

Please note that this is true of minor disagreements or arguments and does not refer to the breaking of a family bond over a truly toxic relationship or a very negative, or even abusive, experience.

While family is important, there are many valid reasons why you may never wish to see a certain family member again and we are certainly not suggesting that you need to go against your values just to participate in a family gathering.

How to Keep Family Gathering Enjoyable

Family gatherings are often a wonderful experience for everyone. However, each family member contributes their own past, beliefs, behavior, and expectations to any family event. When these conflicting expectations and behaviors collide, the family gatherings are not always peaceful and can go “south” fast.

Sometimes you’ll find yourself dreading them for this reason. You can use several strategies to try to ensure that you have a good time.

Related Reading: Why Family Can Hurt You The Most [4 Reasons]

Find Out Who Will Be Attending the Gathering

One strategy is to find out who will be attending the family gathering. From past family gatherings, you will already know who was difficult to interact with and whose company you enjoyed.

By finding out who will be at the gathering, you can prepare yourself to not clash with them or simply decide to not go. You will also be able to anticipate the stress points as they most likely won’t be new.

Only Focus on Yourself and How You Act

Trying to control others is a surefire way to become uncomfortable and frustrated. It is not your responsibility to keep everyone at a family gathering calm. You are solely accountable for yourself (and any minor children you are bringing with you).

Therefore, be cautious when attempting to control the actions or emotions of others and instead concentrate on yourself. Try not to be concerned with how other family members behave or think or imagine how you would like them to feel or act.

Focus on yourself and how you can behave so that you feel better about yourself, and maybe others will follow suit.

Talk About Fun Stories and Bring Up Good Memories

Bring up fun stories or fun memories that engage your family members and yourself. This way, the focus will be on positive things, and the chances of things taking a turn are less likely to happen when everyone is in a good mood.

Have A Plan to Help You Out of Uncomfortable Situations

Have a plan to exit any conversations that go “off the rails” or might be sensitive to you. Try to change the topic to something lighter. If the subject persists, excuse yourself, or have a signal with another family member to let them know that you need some help getting out of a sticky situation.

Thinking ahead and having a strategy can help to reduce the event’s stress. Your strategy could be as simple as avoiding your grandparents since you never see “eye-to-eye” on politics. It’s crucial not to set your sights too high when creating your plan. Choose a few attainable goals and go forward from there. This way, you’ll find out what works best for you.

Examples of Family Gatherings

Family gatherings come in a variety of events. Numerous options are available, ranging from barbeques in your backyard to weekend getaways at exotic locations. The sort that is best for your family is determined by various things, including the location of the gathering, how many family members will be attending, etc. Here are some family gatherings examples.

A Barbeque is an Excellent Family Gathering

A simple and easy family gathering is a family barbeque. These are relatively easy to plan and coordinate and do not require copious amounts of time to plan. This is a great way to bring family members together for good food and fun activities. Family gatherings like these are also much cheaper. These are suitable if you’re looking to host a small get-together.

Family Gatherings Can Happen at Restaurants for Some Events

For events such as birthday parties, engagement announcements, etc., going to a restaurant is usually a go-to where catering is handled by the restaurant itself, and you don’t necessarily have to worry about doing much decorating yourself.

Traveling As a Family is Also a Great Family Gathering Idea

Another example of a family gathering/reunion (depending on the guest list) is a planned cruise or traveling together to exotic locations. These types of gatherings require more planning and often cost a lot of money. However, the plus side is that many family members can join from all over the world.

All gatherings do not have to be done at home. If you have a little more leeway in your budget, host it somewhere with memorable things you can all enjoy together.

Other family gathering events are themed dance parties, hosting trivia nights, having outdoor movie nights, etc. The goal is to bring the family together for a good time.

Tips On How to Have a Successful Family Gathering

Planning a family gathering can be daunting, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Fear not, as it is relatively easy and can be fun too.

Create a List to Help You Manage the Planning

The first thing you’ll want to do is put together a list of the things you want to do at the gathering. The family members you wish to invite, fun activities the whole family can participate in, and food can all be included in this list.

You can also enlist the help of others to make the experience more enjoyable and ensure that everything is planned “perfectly”.

Set a Suitable Budget for The Gathering

The truth is that the family gathering will be costly. You’ll need a budget and can, in some cases, approach family members for contributions depending on where the gathering will be held. Keep in mind that family gatherings do not have to be expensive. These contributions might not be financial, but rather asking each family member to bring their own dish to a pot-luck for everyone to enjoy.

However, you will need money for food, decorations, any fun activity equipment you will be leasing, or even the location you may be renting. Therefore, carefully find out what needs money and how much is needed. Send the list to family members and find out if any of them can help out.

Give Everyone Something to Do

Pair family members together, so they have someone to do the task with. Delegate tasks such as decorating the venue, cleaning up after the event, babysitting, and coming up with fun activities for each family member.

Although gatherings are usually planned and executed by one person, enlisting everyone’s help can be a great way to make everyone feel included. It’s also an excellent way to let everyone bond and catch up.

Ask Family Members to Contribute Some Meals

Invite family members to bring a dish to share. Ensure that they know that it can either be a dish they cooked themselves or something ordered or bought from a store. Not everyone can cook, but they may want to still bring something.

This is another way to make everyone feel welcome and allow those that enjoy cooking to show off their cooking skills. It’s also an excellent way for families to share cooking secrets and recipes.

Teens are capable of assisting in food preparation. You will be passing on some crucial cooking skills while also making them feel like significant contributors if you encourage their participation.

Plan Activities That Accommodate Everyone

The best way to find out what each family member likes to do is to ask them. Send out a survey with a list of different activities. This way, you’ll find out what the kids do with their spare time and what they would like to be doing at the family gathering, whether it’s outdoor activities like baseball or more subdued activities like board games.

Board games are always a favorite at family gatherings. Also, make plans to accommodate shy kids. Some people might want a quiet space after some time. Ensure there is a place for some peaceful time away from the crowd, so they have time to recharge before joining the group again.

Find A Way to Document the Event

Ensure that you have a way to record or document the event so it can be watched in other family events. Have some family members record moments and take pictures. All of this can be put together, and the final piece can be a great way to reminisce in the future.

Continue Reading: What Does The Phrase “Like Father Like Daughter” Mean?

Family gatherings are essential in today’s world. Individual members benefit from the family gathering in terms of love, unity, development, happiness, and various other factors. Although they can be challenging when personalities clash, they have many more benefits.

Family gatherings should be a regular thing in families.

How to Have Family Gatherings with Less Stress and More Joy

As you start spending time with family again, these tools can help..

Posted October 12, 2021 | Reviewed by Vanessa Lancaster

• Family gatherings can stir up old issues and bring on new ones.
• Expectations, which can take many different forms, may impact feelings about gatherings.
• To change the impact of unmet expectations, know what is likely to happen and what to do to prepare.

Whatever is going on with COVID-19 , it seems that many families are making plans to spend time together this fall and winter. Birthday parties, weddings, and Sunday dinners put off for 18 months are happening at last. And, of course, Thanksgiving, Hanukah, and Christmas are not that far away.

Are you excited about seeing family? Are you happy about getting back to a more normal life? Or are you worried about picking up where you left, rehashing old, familiar arguments, and struggling with a lifetime of dysfunctional interactions – not to mention unpleasant discussions about masks, vaccines, and whether break-through cases of COVID are reality?

While you can’t prevent heated political discussions, make restless children calm down, stop your mother from drinking too much, or turn your father-in-law into a more compassionate human being, you can do something to keep the evening or weekend from becoming a personal tragedy. The keyword here is expectation .

Neuroscientists have recently found evidence that what we expect can influence how we behave and how we behave can impact what happens.

Expectations take on many different forms.

One set of expectations goes along the lines described by Alice*, who told me she wanted her children to have a different relationship with her parents than with her grandparents. “I want them to have a special connection with their Granny and Gramps,” she said. “I didn’t have that, and I always longed for it.” But such hopes aren’t always fulfilled, often because they don’t consider the complexity of all of our relationships.

In her book Nashville , Anna Quindlen offered one of the wisest, funniest, and gentlest examples of this I’ve ever read. Speaking about becoming a grandmother, she softly poked fun at herself for her expectations that her grown son will continue to be her little boy, her daughter-in-law will become her little girl, and she will be the center of her grandson’s universe. In a gentle, humorous poke at grandparents’ belief that we know everything there is to know about child-rearing and that we expect our grown children to accept our knowledge unquestioningly, Quindlen wrote that reality is quite different, and,

Care must be taken, boundaries respected. I’m more interested in fitting into our grandson’s routine than in busting him out of it, in having him be not a wedge but yet another bridge between his parents and me.

And then in one of the most honest admissions from a parent or a grandparent, she said, “I don’t want to tell my son and his wife what to do; I’m not sure I know.”

Family and couples’ therapists have long known that expectations can significantly color any relational interaction. Often experienced as longings but framed as demands, these complicated desires can precisely create the kind of wedge Quindlen hoped to avoid. Parents want their grown children to like them better than their partners’ parents and prove it by coming to their home for holiday celebrations. In-laws wish to be folded in and loved (immediately) like family members. A daughter wants her mother to behave like her mother-in-law, or conversely, she wants her mother-in-law to act like her mother. Or like she wishes her mother had acted.

These desires can lead to disappointment, anger , and resentment when not met. But expectations can also become self-fulfilling prophecies, according to the researchers on the neuroscience of expectation.

For example, Beatrice* constantly hopes that the next family dinner will be the wonderful, joyous gathering depicted in some of her favorite tv shows. But what she gets is a form of Real Housewives when her mother drinks too much, her father and brother disappear to watch football, and her sister-in-law makes a snide comment about her sweater being “just a little too snug for your body shape.” She comes back from these experiences with the comment, “I should have known. They just aren’t going to change.”

While there may be truth to her words, there’s also the possibility that her expectations added to the difficulty. As we look at these expectations, Beatrice realizes that she “knew” that her mother would get drunk and her sister-in-law would say something nasty and that her father and brother would once again leave her alone to deal with these two difficult women on her own. She expected it, and she was waiting for it to happen.

What she hadn’t thought about, however, was that if she turned expectation into preparation, she could behave differently. She might have prepared to go to watch football with the guys, for instance. “But I don’t like football,” she said when I made that suggestion. I asked if she could play with the idea of doing something a little different next time, though. “Well, I could go sit with them and read, or I could bring my knitting and do that while I sit there. That would work. And it might even be relaxing!”

We have multiple layers of expectations, not all of which we put into clear words for ourselves. But if you can put your desires and expectations into phrases, allowing yourself to know what you anticipate might happen even if it’s not what you want to have happened, you can then take the next step and prepare for what you expect.

So for whatever family gathering might be in your near future, try thinking out these three steps:

• What are your desires?
• What do you anticipate will happen?
• What can you do to prepare for what will really happen?

Taking these three steps will likely help you enjoy the gathering, even if it doesn’t lead to you getting exactly what you long for. And maybe, as your expectations become more realistic, you will get more of what you are hoping for.

F. Diane Barth, L.C.S.W. , is a psychotherapist, teacher, and author in private practice in New York City.

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Essay about Family: What It Is and How to Nail It

Humans naturally seek belonging within families, finding comfort in knowing someone always cares. Yet, families can also stir up insecurities and mental health struggles.

Family dynamics continue to intrigue researchers across different fields. Every year, new studies explore how these relationships shape our minds and emotions.

In this article, our dissertation service will guide you through writing a family essay. You can also dive into our list of topics for inspiration and explore some standout examples to spark your creativity.

What is Family Essay

A family essay takes a close look at the bonds and experiences within families. It's a common academic assignment, especially in subjects like sociology, psychology, and literature.

So, what's involved exactly? Simply put, it's an exploration of what family signifies to you. You might reflect on cherished family memories or contemplate the portrayal of families in various media.

What sets a family essay apart is its personal touch. It allows you to express your own thoughts and experiences. Moreover, it's versatile – you can analyze family dynamics, reminisce about family customs, or explore other facets of familial life.

If you're feeling uncertain about how to write an essay about family, don't worry; you can explore different perspectives and select topics that resonate with various aspects of family life.

Tips For Writing An Essay On Family Topics

A family essay typically follows a free-form style, unless specified otherwise, and adheres to the classic 5-paragraph structure. As you jot down your thoughts, aim to infuse your essay with inspiration and the essence of creative writing, unless your family essay topics lean towards complexity or science.

Here are some easy-to-follow tips from our essay service experts:

• Focus on a Specific Aspect: Instead of a broad overview, delve into a specific angle that piques your interest, such as exploring how birth order influences sibling dynamics or examining the evolving role of grandparents in modern families.
• Share Personal Anecdotes: Start your family essay introduction with a personal touch by sharing stories from your own experiences. Whether it's about a favorite tradition, a special trip, or a tough time, these stories make your writing more interesting.
• Use Real-life Examples: Illustrate your points with concrete examples or anecdotes. Draw from sources like movies, books, historical events, or personal interviews to bring your ideas to life.
• Explore Cultural Diversity: Consider the diverse array of family structures across different cultures. Compare traditional values, extended family systems, or the unique hurdles faced by multicultural families.
• Take a Stance: Engage with contentious topics such as homeschooling, reproductive technologies, or governmental policies impacting families. Ensure your arguments are supported by solid evidence.
• Delve into Psychology: Explore the psychological underpinnings of family dynamics, touching on concepts like attachment theory, childhood trauma, or patterns of dysfunction within families.
• Emphasize Positivity: Share uplifting stories of families overcoming adversity or discuss strategies for nurturing strong, supportive family bonds.
• Offer Practical Solutions: Wrap up your essay by proposing actionable solutions to common family challenges, such as fostering better communication, achieving work-life balance, or advocating for family-friendly policies.

Family Essay Topics

When it comes to writing, essay topics about family are often considered easier because we're intimately familiar with our own families. The more you understand about your family dynamics, traditions, and experiences, the clearer your ideas become.

If you're feeling uninspired or unsure of where to start, don't worry! Below, we have compiled a list of good family essay topics to help get your creative juices flowing. Whether you're assigned this type of essay or simply want to explore the topic, these suggestions from our history essay writer are tailored to spark your imagination and prompt meaningful reflection on different aspects of family life.

So, take a moment to peruse the list. Choose the essay topics about family that resonate most with you. Then, dive in and start exploring your family's stories, traditions, and connections through your writing.

• Supporting Family Through Tough Times
• Staying Connected with Relatives
• Empathy and Compassion in Family Life
• Strengthening Bonds Through Family Gatherings
• Quality Time with Family: How Vital Is It?
• Navigating Family Relationships Across Generations
• Learning Kindness and Generosity in a Large Family
• Communication in Healthy Family Dynamics
• Forgiveness in Family Conflict Resolution
• Building Trust Among Extended Family
• Defining Family in Today's World
• Understanding Nuclear Family: Various Views and Cultural Differences
• Understanding Family Dynamics: Relationships Within the Family Unit
• What Defines a Family Member?
• Modernizing the Nuclear Family Concept
• Exploring Shared Beliefs Among Family Members
• Evolution of the Concept of Family Love Over Time
• Examining Family Expectations
• Modern Standards and the Idea of an Ideal Family
• Life Experiences and Perceptions of Family Life
• Genetics and Extended Family Connections
• Utilizing Family Trees for Ancestral Links
• The Role of Younger Siblings in Family Dynamics
• Tracing Family History Through Oral Tradition and Genealogy
• Tracing Family Values Through Your Family Tree
• Exploring Your Elder Sister's Legacy in the Family Tree
• Connecting Daily Habits to Family History
• Documenting and Preserving Your Family's Legacy
• Navigating Online Records and DNA Testing for Family History
• Tradition as a Tool for Family Resilience
• Involving Family in Daily Life to Maintain Traditions
• Creating New Traditions for a Small Family
• The Role of Traditions in Family Happiness
• Family Recipes and Bonding at House Parties
• Quality Time: The Secret Tradition for Family Happiness
• The Joy of Cousins Visiting for Christmas
• Including Family in Birthday Celebrations
• Balancing Traditions and Unconditional Love
• Building Family Bonds Through Traditions

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Family Essay Example

For a better grasp of the essay on family, our team of skilled writers has crafted a great example. It looks into the subject matter, allowing you to explore and understand the intricacies involved in creating compelling family essays. So, check out our meticulously crafted sample to discover how to craft essays that are not only well-written but also thought-provoking and impactful.

Final Outlook

In wrapping up, let's remember: a family essay gives students a chance to showcase their academic skills and creativity by sharing personal stories. However, it's important to stick to academic standards when writing about these topics. We hope our list of topics sparked your creativity and got you on your way to a reflective journey. And if you hit a rough patch, you can just ask us to ' do my essay for me ' for top-notch results!

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FAQs on Writing an Essay about Family

Family essays seem like something school children could be assigned at elementary schools, but family is no less important than climate change for our society today, and therefore it is one of the most central research themes.

Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions on family-related topics. Before you conduct research, scroll through them and find out how to write an essay about your family.

How to Write an Essay About Your Family History?

How to write an essay about a family member, how to write an essay about family and roots, how to write an essay about the importance of family, related articles.

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Family Gets Together Essay Examples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Sociology , Women , Father , Communication , Children , Food , Parents , Family

Words: 1300

Published: 02/05/2020

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Introduction

The family get together refers to the gathering of family members to discuss crucial issues that pertain to the whole family in general. A family is a group people having a binding blood or other cultural defining relationship. It usually consists of father as the head of the family, mother, and children just like my family. My family members often come together to have general meetings in order to solve issues that arise in the family that may need the effort of the whole family. For my families organize concert parties to contribute school fees for a needy school-going child. The areas of discussion in the family gatherings may vary from one family to another butt some areas of concern are often common in many families depending on the lifestyles of the family members. Family members are important avenues for enhancing and encouraging the relationship and awareness among family members. In family gatherings, various groups of family members develop specific friendship among themselves depending on their cultural grouping. E.g., My two cousins of the same age are more close to each other than to the other family members. My family gathering is of essence in relation to introducing new family members. New family members are always through marriages and birth. The women married are often introduced to the whole family for purpose of joining the family because the new members are needed in order to expand the family as well as playing new roles in the family. My family gathering is therefore crucial for this purpose of introducing new members into the family. In my family ceremonial gathering is usually made as homecoming for the new family members. Family gatherings are also of great essence in discussing issues that are beyond the control of an individual family member. In my family members do gather to formulate solutions that face the family members. The issues pertaining to the progress of the children in their academics is an issue that needs consideration. The challenges facing these children are discussed so that they can be tackled by through the efforts of all family members. Family gatherings are also grounds for discussing matters pertaining to the religious issues of the family so that their children are not misled. The issues pertaining to the religion are given more focus so that the children see the importance of their children that helps them in guiding their moral code of conduct. The tradition of the family is also given consideration so that the order in the family can be maintained because each family may have principles that guides them in their day-to-day life. It is quite often for family members to have one common faith, which shows that the issues of religion are prior to discussion at family level. My family does gather at times to discuss about the nature of both the current and past neighborhood and environment so that people can cope up with changes that may arise. This therefore helps our family members to cope up with new surroundings. At the gathering my family does discuss issues like drug addiction as well as divorce between family members but these topics may sound like taboos and usually the family does not discuss these issues in the presence of the children. My family considers various activities as immoral and thus tabooed by the family. These are members engagement in gossips, on others children, family financial status and marital status of others e.g recent divorce cases. To my family this is very destructive to unity and hence harmony in the family. My family is built on unit as its core value. Drug addiction is cursed and tabooed as it portrays a bad picture of the family as in my family the failure of one member tarnishes not only the picture of the failure but also of the family. A family is always characterized are usually by existence of a family property and therefore illegal sell of family property is prohibited by the family canons and therefore considered a taboo. My family has three estates considered to be a family property. Language can be used to give and reveal various aspects. There two main types of communication that is verbal communication and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication is the used of speech or verbal words to deliver information. However, words can be communicated in used in a language to approach situations in various ways for instance it can be in a persuasive way such that the use of various words cannot spark any negative attitude towards others in reference. For instance we use words such as to mean what they do not imply in the literal meaning of the words in use (double speaking). For one to deduce the real meaning double spoke phrase he/she has to go into an investigative analysis. In speech one evening my father said “what cute babies with bright long hair!” by which he meant my uncle’s wife’s two children. The use of this phrase in speech is to distinctly differentiate the outsiders and my family members. Other examples of double speaking phrases used in our family include, the use of the neighborhood to investigate the economic status of the various family members as the respondent who is asked the neighborhood he lives will answer in good faith and spirit thus giving the interviewer a lot of information. Also in probing on the economic and social status of an individual, we can ask a family member on where his or her children go for school. This will be used to ask on whether our family can afford the range top of school and thus determining his or her social class. This will help our father to cluster the family in the various social hierarchies. Generally, language can be used in exclusion and stereotyping as hidden meaning phrases, which lead to exclusion of the intended people from the communicated information. The use of various specific words and there arrangement in speech can be used to spur some inference into the social identification and generation of opinions about various classifications of the community and family members for instance gender, ethnic groups and age groups. Non-verbal communication is the use of body expressions and signs to communicate information. This involves nodding of head and side by side shaking to mean agreeing and disagreeing on a situation respectively this is commonly used by my young family members. Unit can be demonstrated by closure of family members thus our recognition as a family unit. Hand gestures can be used to communicate for instance inviting and dismissing people. Non-verbal communication mostly shows the relationship between people. Mostly the closeness between people as it is more of informal method of communication. Language communication and use is distinct to various cultural grouping as it is rare to find children arguing with the youth. My father usually engages in arguments with other elders in the family and rarely with us and my mother. In general, the use of language in the family involves the use of vocabularies that show family values and the general way of life. Depending on age, there exist various levels of interaction between my family members. The old family (My mother and my father) members focus on the family ties while the youth my juniors focus on friendship advancement. It is also evident that women are more interactive and social than men since they seek to realize on the lifestyle of others. For instance, children will always make stories on playing while old argue on family issues. This explains the barrier between such classes of the family.

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My First Family Reunion – Essay Sample

Topic: Family

Thesis Statement: Family is very important, as it says in the Bible: “A house that is divided cannot stand”.

• I attended my first family reunion when I was twelve years old. This was no ordinary family reunion; it involved my extended family, and lasted overnight. It was an overall fun experience and it brought me closer to my family
• “A family that prays together stays together”, grandmother would always say
• Today I will be speaking about the family reunion which brought my family and I closer together
• Sadly, not all people, especially teenagers appreciate their family
• Getting Acquainted night was our first gathering
• I did not realize how many family members I had, and was overwhelmed at first
• I was reluctant to be involved and stayed close to my immediate family
• I honestly did not want to be where I was, and it felt awkward
• After some time, I started liking it when we got a bit more involved in the activities
• We played icebreaker games and there were a few speeches
• The night turned out pretty fun
• The family picnic was probably the most fun part of the reunion
• After experiencing a gist of the reunion the night before, I was ready to be more involved
• I got to know family members who I did not know I had
• After a day, it was as if I knew them my whole life
• This part of the reunion was most probably the most active
• Games were held again, and it was all good times
• I did not want it to end
• The family banquet was a formal event, and it closed the family reunion
• The whole family gathered at a formal banquet where closing remarks were made
• We spoke about the good time we had during the activities
• It was concluded that we should do something like this more often
• After this whole time, grandmother, who was one of the eldest members in the family reiterated the importance of the family
• Because of all the games and activities, I did not realize that this reunion actually served a deeper purpose
• For me, it was just a very fun event, however after much thought, I knew it meant something more
• A family that prays together stays together. We made this happen by gathering all the members of our family, and joining together in meals and in good times
• “A house that is divided cannot stand”, and family is a very important part of anyone’s life
• Has any event in your life brought you closer to your family?

The road to success is easy with a little help. Let's get your assignment out of the way.

Most people see a few close family members on a regular basis. But when was the last time you got together with relatives for a family reunion? These events can create joy and special memories for adults and children alike. Here are a few reasons why you should consider having a family gathering soon:

5 Reasons Why You Should Have a Family Gathering

• Strengthen Family Bonds
• Honor a Shared Heritage or Culture
• Celebrate Family Milestones
• Connect Children to Extended Family
• Create Positive Memories

All families may have parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and grandparents. But no two families are exactly alike. Do you know what makes your family history and traditions special? And how do you go about recognizing those unique qualities in ways that will ensure they are remembered from one generation to another? 

Setting aside a few hours or a weekend for a family gathering is beneficial for any family. This is true whether you have a small family reunion or a large get-together with your extended family. A family reunion helps us all connect with our roots, celebrate family accomplishments, and feel bonded with those we love. 

Some families have regular reunions every year or so. Others may hold a family gathering around a significant milestone—such as a wedding or anniversary. Whatever your family chooses to do, a gathering with extended family is a time for reflection and celebration.

1. Strengthen Family Bonds

Today, technology has made it easier than ever to stay in touch with far-flung family members. If you use social media, you may be accustomed to seeing cute photos of kids or “liking” a funny comment from a far-away relative. But these interactions—while valuable—are just the tip of the iceberg. Spending time with others and relating to them in a personal, meaningful way is the key to deeper relationships.

A family gathering is an excellent way to get to know relatives you’ve never met. You can introduce your kids to cousins who may become close friends for life. And kids can also get to know adult relatives who can support and guide them in their future. Plus, children always benefit from knowing more people who embody positive family values . 

While building bonds with extended family is a significant benefit of any reunion, the event can be a special time for you and your children. Planning for the event can be exciting and educational for young people. And you can have many engaging discussions about family traditions and history. Although the family gathering may be brief, the deeper bonds with family endure well after the event.

2. Honor a Shared Heritage or Culture

Some families may have strong ties to heritage or culture that endure for generations. Others may lose touch with their ancestors or roots. Wherever your family falls on this spectrum, a reunion is the perfect time to connect with family history.

Choosing the right location can help strengthen these ties. Perhaps you could host a destination family gathering where ancestors once lived. You could schedule a tour of a nearby cultural or historic site. Or you could time your reunion around a local festival that relates to family heritage. 

Another way to build awareness of family heritage is through volunteer service. Perhaps your family members could perform service work at a church that ancestors attended.  Simple tasks like garden clean-up or painting can have immense value to a church or other charitable organization. And service work can help family members bond as they work together towards a common goal. Be sure to research service ideas for families well in advance of your event to give as many people as possible the chance to participate. 

Chances are, you’ll find that at least one family member is an avid researcher or genealogist. A family gathering is a perfect time for family members to share photos or documents to help build out a family tree or history book. Creating and sharing these treasured mementos can preserve unique aspects of your family’s past for future generations. And you’ll be surprised just how engaged your children will be when it comes to old photos or stories of the past.

3. Celebrate Family Milestones

For some families, getting together around a significant family milestone can be ideal. You can honor an important passage—like a wedding, graduation, or anniversary—and extend the celebration with a family get-together. The enjoyment of a family reunion can ease the travel burden for those that must cross long distances to attend.

If you’re planning to center a family gathering around a milestone, preparation is essential. You’ll likely want to schedule reunion events or activities that are separate from any milestone-related celebration. You don’t want to overshadow the milestone celebrant’s special day. 

4. Connect Children to Extended Family

We are our kids’ best role models and teachers. When we demonstrate that we value family connections, kids will learn from our behaviors. Conversely, if we don’t make time for family reunions, it’s unlikely our children will either. Hosting or attending a family reunion shows our kids that family matters.  

By taking part in a family reunion, children can start to see how they are the continuation of generations of people. They can feel cared for and connected to a wider circle of people. They may find some new positive role models in their extended family -- an uncle they’ve not spent much time withcan embody the qualities of a good father , or an aunt can be the perfect model of a happily married woman . Relationships with cousins can deepen from mere acquaintances to loyal, lifelong friends. 

5. Create Positive Memories

In our hectic everyday lives, it can be hard to schedule time with our own families. Scheduling time with extended family is even more difficult. But a family reunion gives us a dedicated time to honor the importance of staying connected to relatives, near and far. It’s an ideal reason for us to pause and honor the people closest to us.

Family gatherings give us a reason to take a break from work and school and focus on people who make life meaningful. At family events, you’ll get opportunities to have intriguing conversations and share stories and laughter. You’ll create positive memories and rich relationships that will stay with you and your children throughout your entire lives.

Today, many people have a hard time slowing down and focusing on the truly valuable things in life, like family. But we all know that the most special times occur when we take a break from the hustle-and-bustle of our normal routine. You may want to add some vacation time before or after a reunion to make the most of the occasion.

Ideas for More Meaningful Family Reunions

With a little planning, you can have a family reunion that is both fun and meaningful. Be sure to plan activities that work for both kids and adults to get everyone engaged.

One great idea is setting up an icebreaker to help distant members of your family connect. If you’re having a sit-down dinner, place a short questionnaire at each place setting. Ask questions about childhood memories and insights on ancestors. These topics are certain to be great conversation-starters. Plus, you can keep the questionnaires and use them to help build a family history book after the event. You could also ask the family to complete the Kinmundo family culture assessment online ahead of time and then plan to have fun discussing and comparing family cultures at the gathering.

Ask relatives to bring copies of family photos or mementos to share. Provide scrapbooking materials and encourage relatives to work together to create a one-of-a-kind memory book. Another excellent idea is to have relatives bring recipes for a special family cookbook. 

Games can help connect people across generations. You can design and print family crossword puzzles or word searches using online templates. Or you could create a scavenger hunt to get people moving around and talking to one another. All these ideas—and more—can create special family memories that last a lifetime. 

Surviving a Family Gathering

Family gatherings bring joy to many people. However, if there are old hurts, tensions, or disagreements, these get-togethers can be hard on some relations. And some family members may have difficult personalities or strong opinions that distress others. But you don’t have to let extended family issues ruin a family get together.

Go in knowing that every family has its trouble spots. Most family reunions last from a few hours to a weekend. During that short time, many people can set their differences aside and look for common ground. If you’re helping to organize the event, having structured activities can help keep relatives focused on positive topics and avoid awkward moments. It may also be wise to arrange seating to create physical space between people who have tense relationships. 

If you feel nervous about interacting with certain relatives, you should honor your feelings. You may need to interact with people who make you uncomfortable but remain polite and calm. Keep the conversation focused on neutral topics. You can change the subject if the conversation treads into unwanted territory. Remember that you don’t need to disclose personal or emotional details about your life with anyone—and that includes family members.

And it’s also okay to end a conversation that is truly uncomfortable. Since family reunions are typically large events, you can say you need to go catch up with someone else and exit the discussion. Or you can volunteer to keep the event moving along. Immerse yourself in serving food or leading children’s activities. At family gatherings, there is enough to do and enough people to engage with to keep you occupied and safely away from any difficult encounters. 

You deserve to enjoy your family reunion. Don’t jeopardize your own happiness to accommodate someone who makes you feel uncomfortable. Give yourself permission to have space from anyone who challenges you and focus on deepening bonds with those who bring positive feelings into your life.

Deepen Bonds with Loved Ones at a Family Gathering

Whether you have them every year or once a decade, family gatherings are important. Although modern technology makes it easier to keep in touch with family, keep in mind that social media is no replacement for a face-to-face family get-together. A family can deepen bonds when they work together towards a goal, have one-on-one conversations, or share a meal.

If you’re planning a family reunion, give yourself plenty of time to prepare. You may want to survey members of your family to find dates and locations that can work. Some families opt to meet at a venue—such as a hotel or resort. If so, there will be fees associated with space rentals, and those can add up if you expect a large group of attendees. You’ll need to establish a budget for these costs—and others such as meals or family reunion activities. And you’ll need to decide if you want to fundraise or charge a fee for each family that attends. If you want to keep costs low, find out if a family member can host the event at his or her home. 

You’ll also need to collect contact information for family members. Although social media can make connecting easy, remember that some people don’t have accounts on social sites. If you have a large family, you may have to find other ways to invite people. A mailed invitation may be a good option. 

For the family gathering event, aim for a mix of structured activity and downtime. Every family has people who are full of energy and those that may want to sit in one place and talk for hours. Spend some time researching family reunion ideas and pick some that will work for the different personalities in your family. You may also find it helpful to let people opt-out of certain activities, or have two different types of activities going on at the same time, with the option to choose one or the other. With a little planning, you can make sure all guests have a good time. 

Lastly, it can be wise to find another family member who  is interested in co-planning the event with you. Not only will this lessen the workload, but it tends to increase creative problem-solving. In addition, it allows you to be more thoughtful about communicating with certain family members who may be resistant to the idea of a reunion. In such cases, the co-planner with the best relationship with that individual might reach out. Or it may be more beneficial to approach that person as a unified front. In any event, trust your instincts and proceed with a positive mindset. 

These days, most of us lead busy lives. Taking a break to focus on extended family is valuable for everyone. It helps us connect to our heritage and build new bonds with family. For a child, attending a family gathering can be an eye-opening experience that he or she will never forget. When you make family reunions a priority, everyone benefits. A reunion helps families learn more about each other—and in the process, we learn more about ourselves.

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Family Gathering as a Time for Joy and Celebration - Essay Example

• Subject: English
• Type: Essay
• Level: College
• Pages: 8 (2000 words)
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How to take the stress out of family gatherings.

Tips for helping your kids be at their best and have fun, too

Writer: Rachel Ehmke

Clinical Experts: Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP , Steven Dickstein, MD

What You'll Learn

• What can you do to prepare your child for a holiday gathering?
• How can you manage relatives’ expectations?
• How can you help picky eaters at family gatherings?

Holidays are supposed to be happy family events, but a lot of times they can be very stressful. Here are some things parents can do to help the holidays go more smoothly.

A lot of behavior problems can be avoided by telling your kids exactly what you expect of them at an aunt or grandparent’s house. It’s good to be as specific as possible. It’s just as important to let your relatives and friends know what to expect of your child. And it’s good to let them know that it’s not up to them to criticize or fix your kid.

If your child is easily over-stimulated by noise and people, it’s a good idea to find a place where they can go to just chill out and take a break. For kids with lots of extra energy, giving them plenty of activities to do in the car and taking breaks to let them run around can help.

Kids who don’t like to be touched or hugged or don’t like to talk around people they don’t know shouldn’t be made to do so. And relatives hosting gatherings should be told what a child’s limits are and not demand more.

If you have a child who’s a picky eater, you might want to bring some food they really like, especially if the holiday is centered around a meal. You can still encourage them to try something new, but that way you’ll know they won’t go hungry.

All parents would love it if their kids became best friends with cousins they see on holidays. But that doesn’t happen just because kids are the same age. Parents can show kids that even if they don’t really like a relative, they still need to be polite.

Know that no holiday is going to be perfect. If you and your child can come away with one or two good memories, you’ve done a good job.

We know from the songs and movies that holidays are supposed to be an exciting, meaningful time for families to reunite and celebrate the things we cherish. We set aside time to practice both religious rituals and family traditions, we give thanks, and, of course, later on, we give presents. But sometimes holiday gatherings are less magical and more, well, stressful.

The vacation from school and work means a break from routine , something kids and parents alike depend on. Many families travel, facing traffic and long airplane rides, to attend one or more family get-togethers with rarely seen relatives who expect kisses and catching up. And most of these occasions will involve unfamiliar vegetable dishes.

How can anxious or easily frustrated children hope to survive all that? We’ve compiled a list of seasonal tips to help all kids—and parents—enjoy the party.

Minimize conflict over behavior

Your kids know the rules at your house, but in the excitement and novelty of a relative’s home, good behavior can be a casualty. Always have a conversation before leaving your house about how you expect your children to behave, and don’t shy away from specifics.

“Knowing what the rules are at someone else’s house is always helpful for kids,” says Steven Dickstein, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist. “They know that you behave differently in church or synagogue than you do on the basketball court; they need to know what the rules are at grandma’s house.” If you have any questions about the house rules, don’t be afraid to ask.

Talk to your hosts early

Besides preparing your children, sometimes it’s necessary to prepare your relatives so they know what to expect. “A child who has behavior difficulties at school is going to have them at grandma’s house,” warns Dr. Dickstein, “so make sure their expectations are realistic. As a parent you never want to put your children in a situation where they’re set up to fail.”

Dr. Dickstein also recommends putting a moratorium on criticizing. “Warn family members about sensitive topics in the same way you’d warn people in advance that your child has a nut allergy,” advises Dr. Dickstein. If you have a body-conscious teen , no one should chide her for taking seconds on mashed potatoes. If your brother doesn’t believe ADHD is real, now isn’t the time to discuss it.

Plan ahead for some peace and quiet

For kids who are easily overstimulated or sensitive to things like noise and crowds, Rachel Busman, PsyD, a clinical psychologist, recommends arranging for another room they can use when they need a break. “During family gatherings we want to achieve a balance between being social with relatives while also knowing that, if things get too overwhelming and intense, there’s a place to take a break and just be quiet.”

Keep kids occupied

Kids like structured activities , and they’ll probably be missing them while school is out. Fortunately the holidays lend themselves to art projects and family-friendly movies that kids enjoy. You can even start new family traditions like cutting out and decorating sugar cookies or throwing a ball around outside.

If you are traveling with a child who will need to sit in a car for any length of time , Dr. Busman advises packing a bag with multiple activities, particularly if the child has a lot of energy. “Don’t just think four or five activities will be enough because you could be through those things before you even get on the highway,” she says.

When traveling Dr. Busman also recommends planning for breaks, even if it’s not that long of a trip. “Kids who get restless or have difficulty managing their impulsive behavior might really benefit from getting out of the car and running around for a few minutes.”

Discuss social expectations

Parents should have different social expectations for different kids, and if necessary communicate them to your extended family. “You want to avoid those mandatory hugs and kisses or cheek-pinching for kids that don’t do that or like it,” says Dr. Dickstein.

Kids with selective mutism should not be pressured to talk during family gatherings (and relatives shouldn’t expect them to talk either). If you have an autistic child who has been working on their social skills , maybe you can agree that they will sit at the table next to you and talk to familiar people—others should be expected to understand.

Getting along with cousins and other kids they don’t see often can be a challenge. Just because kids are approximately the same age doesn’t mean they’ll be natural friends , but they should still try to get along—with adult support if needed. If your daughter gets easily frustrated when she doesn’t get her way, encourage her to share and be polite with her cousins—and let her know she should find you if conflict arises that they can’t settle amicably.

Dr. Dickstein says family gatherings can be a teachable moment. “Let kids know that family is important and sometimes you have to deal with people you don’t really like, but you should work it out, if you can. As parents you are probably doing that with your relatives too, so you can model good social behavior.”

Think about the menu

Family gatherings centered on a meal can put a lot of pressure on kids who are picky eaters or who have sensory issues that limit their diet. If you are going to someone else’s house for dinner and you know the menu will be a problem, Dr. Busman suggests packing something your child will eat and bringing it with you.

Have a conversation with your child ahead of time to reassure them, explaining, “I know we’re going over to your aunt’s house and there’s going to be some different foods there, but we’ll make sure that we bring some things that you like. It would be great if you could try something else, too.” Exploring new foods is good for kids, but it shouldn’t be the most important thing.

Manage your expectations

Both Dr. Busman and Dr. Dickstein agree that managing your own expectations of what the holidays “should” be like is the most essential step to any holiday gathering. “As parents we should check in with ourselves over what our own expectations are and not extend them to our kids,” says Dr. Busman. “It would be great if the kids could sit at the table and eat a nice holiday meal with us, but they’re probably not going to want to sit still for a long time. It’s important to appreciate that kids might find the fun in other things, like watching a movie with their cousins or running around outside. And that’s ok.”

Dr. Dickstein advises identifying one or two things you would like your kids to get out of the holidays—an idea, a value, a memory of doing something special together as a family—and work on achieving that. “But above all, give yourself a break,” he says. “You can’t make everyone happy, and perfect holidays are nonexistent . Think of all those Hollywood comedies about disastrous family gatherings. There’s a reason why they’re funny.”

Frequently Asked Questions

You can manage holiday behavior challenges by communicating expectations to your child before leaving the house. For example, you can tell them explicitly that running inside isn’t allowed at their grandparents’ house. Also, you can try to keep them occupied, schedule some quiet time during the gathering so they aren’t over-stimulated, and talk to the hosts ahead of time so that expectations are realistic.

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Guest Essay

Fulfilling Our Mom’s Dream to See the Solar Eclipse

By Kathleen Lenihan and Maureen Lenihan Rust

Ms. Lenihan is a former high school history teacher and an elected member of the School Committee in Lexington, Mass. Ms. Rust is a senior manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

If all goes according to plan, on April 8, our 75-year-old mother, Nancy, will be settled into a lawn chair in Waco, Texas — some 1,300 miles from her recliner in Las Vegas — and joining a great many other Americans as they put on solar eclipse glasses, tilt their heads up and try to make sense of what’s happening in the heavens.

None of this was a given. Fiercely independent and more than a little skeptical of hype, fads and feverish mass events, our mother is not what you’d call a joiner. Like many of her generation, she has seen a lot in life; she knows what it’s like to have high expectations and be let down. But she also knows the coming eclipse is neither trend nor fad. Planning to see it has united our family in a desire to participate in a mass event that is a wonder of the world.

Part of the drive to take our mother to Waco is the hard truth of time. Partial eclipses come and go, but the next awe-inspiring and captivating total eclipse will not be seen again in the contiguous United States until 2044. Our mother is in variable health and disabled. Absent good luck and medical advancements, odds are heavily stacked against her living to see another one.

Retirement for our mom came with familiar features — more time for her hobbies, rooting for her favorite teams and vacations that cater to disabled individuals. But this planned excursion is different. A cruise can bill itself as a “once-in-a-lifetime adventure” and then offer many dates on the calendar for the same adventure. No matter how many exhilarating experiences a person has collected in 75 years, this one will stand apart.

Her body may be broken, but our mother is still the experience-seeker she has always been. She left home at 18 for a college a thousand miles away, traveled alone to the Middle East and never met a boat, big or small, she didn’t love.

These days, our mom can barely walk. She moves around via a scooter. Her back is so damaged from osteoporosis and an unsuccessful surgery that she cannot sleep, stand or sit without pain. Still, she remains the same stubborn and determined person she has always been. Years ago, this meant going to law school at the age of 40, traveling the world as a divorced single woman and starting her own business just shy of her 50th birthday. Now it means bristling when we mentioned that we are coming from our homes in Massachusetts and California to “take” her to see the eclipse.

“I decided I was going, so I am going,” she told us. “Compliant” and “rule-following” are words not generally used to describe our mom. It wasn’t true when she was a girl at Catholic school, and it certainly isn’t true now with her adult children.

As for us, we don’t always feel like dutiful children. Sure, we send flowers for Mother’s Day and her birthday. We try to speak at least weekly with our mother, but we also frequently end up in yelling matches over politics. In those moments, we tell her she has lost her mind, and she wonders aloud where she went wrong in raising us. Although we visit every Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have never vacationed together as adults. The daily demands of work and our own children long ago got in the way, and those yelling matches are wearying. It’s easy to end a phone call. It’s much harder to stop an uncomfortable conversation at the dinner table.

Despite all that, we have spent more than a year making the arrangements to escort her to this phenomenon of nature. Flights, rental cars and a wheelchair-friendly rental house have been booked since last spring. Most important, we identified an eclipse event at Baylor University in Waco that could handle my mom’s needs while giving us the best chance to view the eclipse under clear skies. We asked the organizers so many questions about walkways, bathrooms, seating and parking that a representative replied via email, “I can see you are putting a lot of thought into making this happen for your mom.” It is a lot of planning, but then my mom (and dad) did the same for four children. Our childhood was filled with trips to see the birthplaces of presidents, Thomas Edison’s workshop, Civil War battlefields, the U.S. Mint and more. Now, like many people in their 40s and 50s, we’ve reversed our roles.

Our mother stayed home when two of her children viewed the solar eclipse in 2017 in Jackson Hole, Wyo. They came back with tales of an event so transformational, she knew she wanted to witness the next one for herself.

People who have never seen a total eclipse are often befuddled by all the hoopla. They most likely recall a partial solar eclipse from childhood — a vague memory of seeing a strange, shadowy impression of the sun through cheap paper sunglasses. But a total solar eclipse is a singularly spectacular phenomenon. The sky darkens, the temperatures drop, and birds fall silent. Viewers can stare directly in the direction of the sun without any eye protection for the minutes of “totality,” when the moon completely covers the sun. Indeed, the only time a human being can see the entire daytime sky is during a total solar eclipse. As Dr. David Grinspoon, now senior scientist for Astrobiology Strategy at NASA, explained to a reporter in 2017, “It’s like the veil comes off the heavens for a minute.” A total eclipse is so outside the realm of normal human experience that in the minutes of totality in 2017, we shouted out in delight and spontaneously hugged each other. Many of us that day had not fully understood that the universe could put on such a wondrous display.

Knowing all that, our mother is saving her strength. She booked a business class flight to Texas to ease her pain, and she is sitting out most of Waco’s pre-eclipse weekend festivities. She will skip the planned science talks. Instead, she will rest for most of the morning and plan to arrive on Baylor’s campus just in time to see the start of the eclipse.

We inherited the desire to explore our world from our mother. The need to care for her now is just as deeply woven into our psyche. Over the past year of planning, the eclipse became less about science for us and more about ensuring that our mother finally has this experience of a lifetime.

Kathleen Lenihan, the eldest of Nancy’s four children, is an elected member of the Lexington, Mass., School Committee. Maureen Lenihan Rust, the second of Nancy’s four children, is a senior manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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