Family CommunicationCollageJessica Hallett

CMS 3323/27/11

Family Type

My family would be classified as a two-parent biological family.

My parents have been married for 27yearsand produced two biological children,myself and my 19 year old brother.

Though many of my friends are also fromthe same type of family, Galvin, Bylund andBrommel (2008) state, “This type of familyno longer represents the most commonfamily form in the United States” (p. 7)

Communication Functions “Each family’s unique

message system providesthe means of dealing with themajor functions that giveshape to family life” (Galvin,Bylund and Brommel, 2008,P. 29).

My family has always beenvery close and open.Everyone within my familyshares there joys andsorrows with one another.We spend a very largeamount of time together.Though we do like to dosome things on our own.

Looking at the four differentlevels of cohesion my familywould most likely beconsidered connected.Galvin, Bylund and Brommel(2008) explain stating,“Family members strive foremotional closeness, loyalty,and joint involvement withsome individuality.

Family Themes and Images “Essentially, themes represent a fundamental view of reality and a way of

dealing with this view” (p. 39, Galvin, Bylund & Brommel, 2008). My families theme is: Your family will always support you – My family members

are the people I go to with all news, good or bad. I trust their opinions andknow that they will support me no matter what.

Family Themes and Images Cont. “Every family operates as an image-making or metaphor-creating entity”

(Galvin, Bylund, Brommel, 2008, p. 37) Within my family we have a few images that best describe us.

As a whole, a nest or a packof wolves best explain us.

Growing up my mother always described herselfas a mother bear…and proved it many times!

Making Meaning 1.Sarcasm - Sarcasm is used regularly in my household; it is never very vicious it

is just a way we joke around with one another. My brother and father being goofyin the pictures below:

2.Nurturing Environment - In my household no one is sent to deal with problems orissues alone, we are always there for one another and are constantly helping solveeach other’s problems. The phrase "Get over it" or "Toughen up" are not used in myhouse.

Making Meaning Cont. 3. Hard work is a given not asked of us - Everyone in my house works and

works hard. If a family member is working in the yard we all go out to help. Itsnot asked of us it is just expected. We always work together until the job isdone, no matter if it benefits us individually or not.

We all help around the house, like whenthe house needed to be painted we allpitched in.

Growing up in a family business hasmade us all hard workers from a youngage. This picture is of my amazinggrandfather, my cousin and myselfwhen I was very young in our solargreenhouses my father built.

Rituals “Repetition of actions and words carries great meaning, eventually

developing into ongoing family rituals. The special meanings and therepetitive nature contribute significantly to the establishment andpreservation of a family’s identity or relational culture” (Galvin, Bylund &Brommel, 2008, p.116).

My family has been going to our camp on Moosehead Lakefor over 20 years. It is one of our most cherished family rituals.

Some smallerrituals would be;My father alwaystakes me to theairport when Itravel. It is anunspoken ritualbut one we bothdepend on.

My mother and Itext “I love youmore”, then theother person willtext “I love you themost” or “I’m themom I win” It’s asmall goofy ritualbut we do it everysingle day.

Family Roles Everyone in my family has a role, but we are also a family that does not see the

point in only one person being responsible for one thing. For example, both myparents work full time, so they are both family providers. My brother and I feelcomfortable talking to either one of them about our problems and emotions. Wework more as a team, all filling in for one another at one point or another. Below ishow I best describe our intertwining roles:

Lisa (Mother) - FinancialProvider, emotional nurturing(hugs, kisses etc.), financialplanner, handy around thehouse.

Jeff (Father) - Financialprovider, realist, the joker, thepersons we go to when weneed to talk about futuredecisions, our cars, or generallife experience. He is veryhandy around the house. He isalso the main cook in ourfamily, always making dinnerand breakfast.

Family Roles Cont.Lee (brother)- the calm and collected member, he is never worried. Hard worker, the brain ofall random information. The rebel of the family, he is always getting into harmless trouble.

Myself (daughter/Sister) - The want to be “princess.” The worrier, I worry about everything.The crier (I require a lot of support and time from all family members). The overly responsibleperson, emotional support for the entire family, my brothers tutor, the academic child.

Family Typology “Pluralistic families, high in conversation orientation and low in conformity,

have open communication and emotional supportiveness in their families”(Galvin, Bylund &Brommel, 2008, P. 177).

Our family is very open. We encourage each other to talk about everything, good orbad.

Decision Making “Decision Making is the process by which family members make choices,

reach judgment, or arrive at solutions that end uncertainty” (Galvin, Bylund&Brommel, 2008, P.201).

Decision making is a team effort inour family. We all respect eachothers opinions and try to alwaysconsult one another when adilemma has come up.

When looking at decision makingstyles our family most always usesconsensus, using compromise andflexibility to reach an agreement.However my brother and Idefinitely look up to our parentsand take their advice veryseriously.

Conflict Though my family rarely fights, when we do everyone is involved. Gavlin,

Bylund & Brommel (2008) state, “Because of family member’sinterdependence, a conflict between two members of the family will affect othermembers” (P. 219).

Common styles of conflict in our household are collaboration or compromise.No one enjoys being mad or tense with one another so we work hard to findanswers.

When conflict does accrue we normally all take some private time to thinkabout what has happened and then come back to discuss and solve the issue.

My Personal Definition of Family At this point in my life I would define family as a support system and the

people who make us who we are. I am lucky enough to have always had anamazing relationship with my parents and brother. I grew up in a familybusiness so I learned quickly how to communicate with all of my familymembers including aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Though my bloodrelatives are incredibly important to me and the people I depend on; I do notthink that being biologically related is necessarily important. Family friends thatare my parent’s age, my friends, my husband and his family have also provedto inspire and shape me as well as supported me throughout hard times.Family is the people who will do anything to protect you and have your bestinterest in mind. They stick with you no matter what and do not disappear atsigns of trouble. At this point in my life blood relation doesn’t define family;support, dependability, communication and love do.

Here are some pictures of my “family”:

My “Family”

Works Cited http://pixdaus.com/pics/1273439381UY8p7kl.jpg http://www.firstpeople.us/pictures/wolves/1152x900/wolves-05-

1152x900.html http://media.photobucket.com/image/image%20of%20a%20open%20f

amily/Nightprowlkitty/simpFamily_Vertical2f_72.jpg http://www.ideachampions.com/weblogs/collaboration-hands.jpg