International Family Day

Dear all,

for the last couple of months, we have been spending more time in our homes and with our families. Our everyday life has undoubtedly changed. New normal has set in and even though cafe’s, shopping centres and playgrounds have been opened and closed – activities that come with them have come and go, our family remained. In these uncertain times, it is really important to become aware of the value of our families. Today we are celebrating International Family Day and invite you to join us! This day is the ideal occasion to pay tribute to our families and to cherish the quality of relationships within them.

Every family is unique and special. It has its habits and unwritten rules. It is a basic social unit that provides us with our first contact with the world and the first stop on our journey of growing up. Why is it so important? Family has an important role in the development of its every member, especially a child. It provides us with foundations and we go out in the world with our first attitudes, values, thoughts and relationships. In its environment, we train our skills and communications which are detrimental for our contact with the outside world, context outside our family.

We as individuals are a part of our family and are in great part its result, but at the same time responsible for its maintenance. Impact of a family on the individual is more often than not, very strong and lifelong – even when we don’t recognise it or want to acknowledge it. Don’t forget that you, as an individual and a part of your family, can also impact it greatly.

Families are dynamic, change often and our mutual relationships adjust changes such as growing up, starting school, arrival or departure of its members, parent’s divorce, moving homes etc. Every single one of these changes could have a great impact on our families and ourselves. While facing these changes, especially if we find them stressful, families can overcome them thanks to their coping skills, personality traits and family’s ability to restore balance. During this time, family can be a safe place, encouraging us to get back on our feet. Thus, emotional climate in a family environment is the most important factor in healthy child development, which we often tell parents that visit our Center. On the other hand, if our parents don’t have functional and healthy relationship and fight a lot, this can result with our adjustment and make us take on unhealthy roles, which prevent us to learn what are tolerance, love, friendship and partnership…

Family isn’t a pleasant place for all of us. But, it is important that we as individuals, make an effort in improving our circumstances – even a little effort can go a long way! Of course, we mustn’t forget people who we consider our friends, who we love and cherish, who can also be a part of our families. All positive relationships in our lives can act as a protective factor and help us learn values and skills, that could help us overcome challenges.

Know that the most important thing is, whomever your family consists of, the meaning of your family to you. We encourage you to think – What does family mean to you? Who are important people in your life and are they aware of it? How often do you let them know how much they mean to you?

With this occasion, we also have a challenge for you. Today celebrate the day of your family – however it is and whomever it consists of. Hug your family member (Of course, we advise caution due to the coronavirus ?), compliment them, tell them how you feel about them how important they are to you. You can even write them a Gratitude Letter, about which we wrote about in our last blog post.

Bear in mind that even though today is the International Family Day – remember and cherish your family every day! ?

Center Luka Ritz