The last couple of weeks I have been thinking about something that never really seemed to matter to me before. I guess somewhere in the back of my mind it just seemed like, "Oh someday I'll take the time and figure some of it out."
You see, I'm from one of those displaced families. By that I mean, my family unit itself, we happened to move away from the area that the majority of my relatives all lived in when I was very young. My younger brother and myself, we were both much to young for any of those people to be memorable to us. So I have grown up my whole life never really knowing any of my relatives. Some of them, I might know a name, but I could cross by them on a street and have no idea I'm related to them.
So, now I'm reaching that age in my life when I have been helping my mother to be sure her final affairs are all in order. And doing this, we have come across many names, pictures, documents etc. which all of them I can't seem to relate to in any way. It's as if they are all perfect strangers (which to be honest they are).
So yesterday I read something which made me think that's an excellent idea for many families to help them feel more connected to their family if they also are "transplants" away from the main family unit. It's so simple but so very effective at giving every child a feeling of having roots. And doing it on Christmas morning helps the kids learn more about themselves, their siblings, parents, grandparents etc.. Therefore, we all learn we do have roots.
This year, and every year, attach a tag to the outside of every Christmas gift under the tree. It's just a simple little question about another family member, or a cherished childhood memory you have for one of your own children. Then let everyone take their turn guessing the answer. Everyone this way learns interesting little facts about their own parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins etc..
Many of these memories are going to be the ones you cherish as you yourself grow older and start realizing you missed out on all the inter-relationships from having an extended family.
You see, I'm from one of those displaced families. By that I mean, my family unit itself, we happened to move away from the area that the majority of my relatives all lived in when I was very young. My younger brother and myself, we were both much to young for any of those people to be memorable to us. So I have grown up my whole life never really knowing any of my relatives. Some of them, I might know a name, but I could cross by them on a street and have no idea I'm related to them.
So, now I'm reaching that age in my life when I have been helping my mother to be sure her final affairs are all in order. And doing this, we have come across many names, pictures, documents etc. which all of them I can't seem to relate to in any way. It's as if they are all perfect strangers (which to be honest they are).
So yesterday I read something which made me think that's an excellent idea for many families to help them feel more connected to their family if they also are "transplants" away from the main family unit. It's so simple but so very effective at giving every child a feeling of having roots. And doing it on Christmas morning helps the kids learn more about themselves, their siblings, parents, grandparents etc.. Therefore, we all learn we do have roots.
This year, and every year, attach a tag to the outside of every Christmas gift under the tree. It's just a simple little question about another family member, or a cherished childhood memory you have for one of your own children. Then let everyone take their turn guessing the answer. Everyone this way learns interesting little facts about their own parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins etc..
Many of these memories are going to be the ones you cherish as you yourself grow older and start realizing you missed out on all the inter-relationships from having an extended family.
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