Most of us have a natural curiosity to know where we come from and how similar and/or different we may be to extended family. This is evident by the rising numbers of people using DNA test companies to learn where their ancestors came from and to connect with other inquisitive family members.
While we seem to strive to be individuals, there’s comfort in knowing someone else might have the same mannerisms, freckles, or quirky laugh. For many, these questions can be answered by attending a family reunion.
Stay or Go
Each family sets the stage for how often they have a reunion. Many hold a yearly reunion on the same weekend, some bi-annually, and others schedule one when they feel they haven’t seen the family in a long time.
It’s common for a reunion to coincide with a family member’s wedding, baptism, anniversary or milestone birthday. Regardless of the timing, how do you decide if it’s important to attend the reunion or not?
When it comes to thinking about our families, it’s helpful to put them into the perspective of a support system. Regarding personal relationships, our families are the first people we learn to socialize with, and therefore we view them as one of the most significant sources of casual support.
Our interactions with family serve as the foundation to teach us how to relate to the outside world. Hopefully, our families have been there for us to provide support when we are coping with difficult life transitions and other stressors. This type of support can often stave off the need for more formal services.
Families not only provide support for us during times of stress, but there are also important relational aspects developed through our day-to-day communications, as well. Most of us don’t realize this is happening while talking about our daily experiences, but getting constructive feedback from our family can be priceless since they are the ones who know us best.
Benefits of attending a reunion (besides great food) include the chance to meet new family members and to maintain existing ties.
Younger generations get the prospect to know and spend quality time with distant relatives. For older relatives, it can afford the opportunity to see everyone one more time. These moments provide an opportunity to hear about family history and traditions, to celebrate culture and to share family recipes. Besides all those reasons, how do you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you came from?
Judith Macek is a licensed professional clinical counselor in Portage County who works with all ages and diagnoses, specializing in anxiety, depression and grief counseling. To reach her, call (330) 398-5000.
