We are a Happy Family

Every family has a "feel."  This is known as our family culture.

This incorporates where we came from, for sure.  But it's more than that. 


A family culutre involves our family's values, interests, hobbies, and personalities.  The tone in our home is also a part of a family culture.  And what's so cool about a family culture is that no two are alike!  Each family is just as unique as each individual within that family.  All relationship dynamics working together with mother and father leading the way. 

Recently I've come across a few different viewpoints and examples on family culture.  I think the first step to creating your own family culture is by sitting down as husband and wife, mother and father and making a list. List the most important values you want your children to learn and then how you want to accomplish teaching those values.
When our oldest was just a year old, my husband and I sat down and created our family mission statement which has translated into our family culture.  We wanted them to develop their talents to bless their lives and others'.  The piano has thus become part of our family culture, adding other musical instruments as they get older.  We knew we wanted them to learn to love and serve one another.  As our family culture we work closely with handicapped youth and adults to more fully understand this principle.  We are a LOUD family! And we love board games.  These are all just parts of our identity as a family.   


When our oldest was just a year old, my husband and I sat down and created our family mission statement which has translated into our family culture.  We wanted them to develop their talents to bless their lives and others'.  The piano has thus become part of our family culture, adding other musical instruments as they get older.  We knew we wanted them to learn to love and serve one another.  As our family culture we work closely with handicapped youth and adults to more fully understand this principle.  We are a LOUD family! And we love board games.  These are all just parts of our identity as a family.   

My cousins decided they wanted to foster strong sibling relationships as part of their family culture.  And so they have created this fabulous website with some great videos made by their children. 

I love what Anne Kroeker says about the benefits of discovering your family culture:

By understanding our own family culture, I have felt more confident with who we are and what we do or don’t do.   I find it easier to explain our choices to others. 

And when we have a pretty good idea of our own family culture, we can understand why we struggle with certain things, make certain decisions, and where we may need to stretch ourselves to try something new.
(highlights added)


At steadymom you can find some excellent questions to ask as you discover your own family culture. 

And this is a great book to read as you talk about Family Culture with your children and involve them in the quirkiness that makes up your identity!

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