Week Two

This week we focused on family dynamics and how family systems are specific to each family. What I thought was most interesting, was when we were asked to evaluate what kind of family we belong to now and the one that we grew up in.

It was interesting, as I thought about the dynamics and roles of each family member of my family growing up, I realized that my family is full of contradictions! My family is adventurous, yet happy to stay inside and play games or watch movies together. We are a family of savers, yet we love to go on fun vacations and will often splurge to do so. I loved the family that I grew up in, and still think that my parents did an amazing job of raising my sister and I. I hope to one day be as good of a parent as they were to me.

Another interesting idea that came to me in class as we were doing the same activity was that my husband and I were raised completely opposite! I would say that my parents raised me in a authoritative manner, whereas my husband was raised in a household that was slightly more authoritarian. This difference in our family systems, as we were raised, has made taking about how we are going to raise our children very interesting! I appreciate the difference in perspective though and know that we will be able to come up with a dynamic that works for us.