[CHAT] We are family
They say blood is thicker than water, and that you cant choose your family. This week we’re getting together to talk about the uniqueness of families in this day and age and to share your stories good, bad or embarrassing about your family. With school and uni holidays just beginning, perhaps you’re already a little overwhelmed by the family..
Love them or hate them, we all have family. They can drive us crazy on those days when we want to sleep in, but dad wants to mow the lawn. But they can also be the ones that are around every single day no matter what, to help you and support you. The age old idea of a nuclear family with a mum, dad and two kids is out the door. These days we have foster children, adopted children; we have family friends that live with us and friends who have turned into family. So what we want to talk about on Monday is how unique and different your family is and why it’s so important to value them- no matter how much they drive you crazy.
This Monday come join myself and @SJG to talk about your family and what makes them unique. Learn tips on how to deal with tricky situations or ways to re-spark that lost family spirit.
How awesome is the Mayor of Geelong @EloiseRose. QandA statement. Hahaha.
Enjoy your night and your Q&A @stonepixie and @EloiseRose 😄
Hey guys its nearly wrap up time for tonight! I just wanted to say thanks so much for jumping on and contributing! Tonight we had a great and uplifting chat about families. It was really positive and I loved hearing all your stories. There’s some links below for fact sheets about families,
http://au.reachout.com/Fighting-with-a-brother-or-sister
http://au.reachout.com/Family-conflict-with-parents
http://au.reachout.com/Caring-for-yourself-while-caring-for-others
But feel free to keep chatting and sharing your stories.
Thanks to @SJG and @EloiseRose for facilitating this chat. Thank you all for this wonderus chat!@stonepixie @redhead @Bee @dreamcatcher and another special thanks to @Pontox for joining us for the very first time tonight during this awesome chat.
Hopefully I didn't miss anyone and I'm so super sorry if I did!
See you all virtually in the near future and may your nights be filled with whatever makes you happy!
Good night all! 
Card games.
My kids will be raised around politics, so hopefully they will be more involved. So many people don't understand how invaluable it is to be involved.
@EloiseRose it's not too late to get involved! I'm currently balancing my attention between forums and QandA. But not too much multi-tasking, I don't have my twitter account open.
So here’s the summary of all things family!!!
- Given that a nuclear family is considered a mother a father, and two children, how does yours differ from this?
- Step siblings
- Multiple children
- Step parents
2. Given these differences what makes your family special to you?
- Siblings/family living overseas
- DIY loving family
- Being an Aunt
- Dysfunctional yet supportive
- Pets treated as children!
- Growing up with grandparents close by
- What types of things do you and your family do together?
- Play cards
- Read comics
- Family meals!
- Dream about going on the block J
- Work on the farm
- Cooking
- Playing music/having sing along’s
- Shopping!
- Travel
- Go to the beach
4. Do you have any weird, unusual or cool family traditions?
- Watching Disney movies
- Ugly birthday hat!!!
- Dancing around the house
- Secret Santa/Easter egg hunts
- Beach walks with ice-creams
- Pop up Christmas books!
- Driving around to see the lights at Christmas
5. How do you 'get along' with siblings in law/brothers in law/ step parents/ family friends, when you don't really get along with them?
- Try to engage in conversation on topics you know they enjoy
- Suggest activities you can both enjoy
- Avoid the situation if you know it will set you off
- ‘Smile and wave’
- Don’t take things personally
- Bite your tongue
- Don’t assume that the relationship will end
- Get outside help
- Avoid the person if necessary
6. What kind of traditions, values or talents do you want to hand down?
- Art and music!
- Affection
- Big family gatherings
- Love of science and activism
- Freedom of choice
- Honesty
- Creativity
- Teach children to be loving and affectionate
- Card games
- Raise/educate children about politics
- Harry Potter love!
7. Do you have any friends that are more like family than friends?
- Yes and they add good different vibes to the family.
- Best friends become family
- Joining other families is a great thing when our own is lost.
- College dorms become family
- Yes until they got a bf/gf
8. In the future do you want a family? If so why/why not? what do you want your family to look like? Big or small, quiet or loud?
- Big! Lots of kids so we can play on the beach
- No kids, maybe pets..
- Adoption!
- Possibly but no idea just yet
- Large, dysfunctional and loving J
- A close family that nurtures and loves
- Adopted pets!!!!
- Lots of cats (crazy cat ladies all round)
- A family of all kinds of animals (practically a zoo)
Thanks so much for a great night guys!!!
@EloiseRose That is how I felt when I started getting into it. I'm still not knowing some things now. I find myself asking some of my political savy friends what something means.
Thanks @EloiseRose and @SJG for facilitating tonight. And everyone else for joining in. Makes it that much more fun!
@stonepixie I guess being more involved, or at least more knowledgeable in politics is a good thing. If only the news wasn't so full of phonies and useless stories that overshadow the important stuff.
ok guys not long left! you have been awesome tonight 🙂
Question:
What kind of traditions, values or talents do you want to hand down? Or what do you want to teach your family that you didn't learn?
- i want to teach my family art ! or music... well i cant teach them because I DIDNT LEARN ! but i want my kids too!!!
- i want them to be able to swim as well.. something my whole family did at a national/ state level!!
- and to enjoy life... because we are pretty good at that
Ooooh, this is a good one, seeing as my mum passed down many of the values and talents that I have now. My interests and activities include art making, acting, singing and writing and nearly all of them came from my mum. I definitely want my children to enjoy these talents, however, I dont want to force it upon them, I want them to know that they can tell me if they don't enjoy doing any of these things and that they can pursue whatever they like. But I just feel that these things are a fantastic way of expressing yourself and nothing - absolutely nothing beats that feeling when you're on stage and connecting with an audience.
But there's just so much out there for them to learn and share with the world and I want them to know they are loved no matter what they do.
Like @EloiseRose said, I want them to enjoy life and give as much as they get!
I want my children to be creative like I am and have the nouse to accept it and really run with it, not ignore or diss it like I have in the past. I also don't want my children to be as self-conscious as I am and was as a child. I want them to grow up feeling loved and accepted, and loving and accepting of others.
I want my children, if I ever have any, to be unbiased. If they ask about religion I'll tell them about all the different religions out there. I won't push my beliefs onto my kids because I want them to make their own choices. I would keep them honest. I don't mean not telling little white lies like "I have brushed my teeth" I mean just being honest in general.
I also want to teach them piano. And if they don't like it then I won't force it on them. I just want to give out as many options as I can for them to choose from.
What kind of traditions, values or talents do you want to hand down? Or what do you want to teach your family that you didn't learn?
Big family gatherings. I want to make sure that the kids know their Aunts and Uncles and cousins. I want to allow them to do whatever sport they want to. I hope to pass on my love for science and my activism.
What kind of traditions, values or talents do you want to hand down? Or what do you want to teach your family that you didn't learn?
My family although they care and love for me very very much is not very affectionate, so i am going to hug and kiss my kids ALL THE TIME, they will proabbly hate it haha. Also my family will love art, im an illustrator so its a must!
Yesss.. hugs and kisses alll the way over the top !!!
@stonepixie yes those big family gatherings !!!
