My Family Culture
Although change is good, this would be the last thing that one would initially find interesting. According to Sparks and Edwards, “How we respond to that experience will either limit or expand our understanding (and acceptance) of the idea that there are many ways to be human, 2010. With the limitation of only have three items it will be difficult to decide what would help me stay connected to my family culture. After a lengthy deliberation and putting my emotional feelings aside, I have chosen the following three items to take with me to my new location to live:
1. Family photo album that consist of grandparents, parents, spouse, children, aunts, uncles, and cousins
2. Family recipe book that consists of meals that have been prepared by scratch
3. Family quilt that was put together by linking square patches
The family photo album represents at least 4 generations of family members. The photos provide me a way in remembering the good times that we had at family reunions, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and the movement from black and white to color prints.
The family recipe book was put together to keep a connection to the past and the future through traditional meals that consisted of basic daily lunch or dinner meals as well as special family events.
The family quilt provides me with a sense of belonging as the quilt represents each individual household uniqueness that has built a larger circle or framework that encourages the family to stay bonded and help one another when needed.
Even though I have travelled abroad, this type of move or relocation is permanent. It would be hard to leave everything that I inherited and accumulated from my family culture. It would be extremely tough to have to decide which item means the most important to me. If I have to make a choice, then I believe that I would choose the family photo album, because I would be able to take a glance at my family history and compare my present to my past.
During this assignment, I have realized that family cultures have a lot to offer to an individual and the history should not be forgotten. When I first looked at the instructions, I immediately thought about my first move to Europe. Let alone scared because I was leaving an environment that I had become accustom and having to go without being able to see my family was hard enough. At least I was able to take the things that I wanted without out a small limitation. I have found that I have taken my family culture for granted and I need to revisit ways to reconnect. Our perception of the world is critical, looking at what is around us is important and needs to be viewed through a set of glasses as stated in the “Family Cultures: Dynamic Interactions” video.
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and
ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC), page 55.
Course Media: "Family Cultures: Dynamic Interactions"
