Family Matters Seminar Final

Travelin’Oma, Week 11, Day 4. Final exam week! This quiz was for yes or no answers and then some short answer questions. The questions Oma put forth are “bolded,” with my answers following.

Family Matters Seminar Final

What's your opinion on family matters? Answer these questions yes or no.

I usually celebrate my birthday with family. Yes.
I try to participate in my extended family functions and gatherings. Yes.
If my friend's birthday and my nephew's birthday fell on the same day, I would go to my nephew's birthday party. Yes.
I would love to spend New Year's Eve with my family. Yes.
Most of my movie outings and picnics are with family. Yes.
I know all my cousins. Yes.
In case of any great news, I inform my relatives (siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.) first. Yes.
If I have any problems, I share them and consult with my family. Yes.
My family is a good support to me. Yes.
I support family members in their times of need. Yes.
I can name my children's best friends. Yes.
I can name my partner's best friends. Yes.
I know what stresses my partner is currently facing. Yes.
I know the names of some of the people who have been irritating my partner lately. Yes.
I can tell you some of my partner's life dreams. Yes.
I can tell you about my partner's basic philosophy of life. Yes.
I can list the relatives my partner likes the least. Yes.
I feel that my partner knows me pretty well. Yes.
When we are apart, I often think fondly of my partner. Yes.
My partner really respects me. Yes.
I respect my partner. Yes.
I notice what my partner does for me and express appreciation. Yes, I try to.
My partner generally likes my personality. Yes.
I like my partner's personality. Yes.
At the end of the day I am glad to see my partner. Yes.
I listen respectfully to my dad, even when we disagree. Yes.
I am beginning to understand my mom. Yes.
I check up on my married siblings often. Yes.
I have developed friendships with my brothers/sisters-in-law. Yes.
I occasionally call my aunts and uncles just to say hi. No. I usually talk to most of them often enough for things I need to talk to them about to squeeze in saying hi as well.
I am trying to forgive family members who have treated me poorly in the past. Yes.
I know my grandmother's maiden names. Yes.
I know my great-grandparent's names. Yes.
My kids know what my dad did for a living. Yes. “Domain Monger, this is Ray.”
I am consciously trying to strengthen my family. Yes.

Think about the questions you answered "no." Do they matter to you? It matters to me to talk to my aunts and uncles, but I talk to many of them fairly frequently.

Essay questions. Choose two.
What does your family count on you for?
If one of your relatives were to brag about you, what would they say?
What praise or acknowledgment have you gotten from your relatives that is meaningful to you?
Name five qualities of your mom or dad that you most respect or admire. Which of those qualities are also true about you?

If one of your relatives were to brag about you, what would they say?

They might say that I am organized and think of all the details that need to be attended to. They might also say that I am willing to help with taking care of getting things done, no matter how busy I am. Recently I helped my cousin with her wedding and she told me that maybe in the next life I should be a wedding planner because I was careful to consider all the details, creative with my problem solving, and willing to help it all happen.

Name five qualities of your mom or dad that you most respect or admire. Which of those qualities are also true about you?

I want to do this for both parents.

First, my mom.
1. She is organized
2. She loves to read
3. She loves to complete projects
4. She has wonderful relationships with her husband and children
5. She loves to play games

Now, my dad.
1. He is the most generous person I have ever known
2. He is a hard worker
3. He has made Joseph feel so much a part of the family, just like a son
4. He is good at including his children in things he is doing
5. He is great cook

So now the part about which qualities are also true about me. We have a saying in my family to indicate how much we are like each of our parents. It involves percentages that reflect how much we are like one parent versus the other. For instance, I might do something just like my mom and someone might say, “90, 10,” indicating that I am 90% like my mom and 10% like my dad. In general, I would say that I am probably "90, 10" or else "80, 20," leaning toward my mom. Joseph laughs all the time about how similar my mom and I are. However, in this case, I hope that even though I might not be all stellar at of the five qualities I listed for my dad, I can follow his example and get closer and closer to emulating these aspects of his life.

Grade yourself on your relationship with your family. I give myself an A, not for perfection but for the effort I put into those relationships.