Family Relations

Process of finding a life partner Finding a life partner represents a need for companionship, emotional connection, and shared experiences, and it is a key turning point in one's personal journey. Finding a life partner is a complicated, intensely personal process, and not a one-size fit all. It is the biggest decision a person can make. Deciding who you will be with for the rest of your life is not an easy decision. I hope to learn with you the counsels of smart individuals. My source of information will be from the scriptures, prophets and apostles counseling, and from family members. I hope you get to stick to the end for this one. I think many of the majority including myself have the assumption of finding the one, “The right person.” A Professor of Marriage and Family stated about this matter at a BYU devotional. In August 1, 2000, THOMAS B. HOLMAN says, Let me make two things clear about what is meant by “the right person.” First, movies, plays, and fiction sometimes le...

 This is a very important factor that plays a great role in relationships. It can affect a variety of areas of family life in cultures where there are defined expectations and gender-based job divisions. Where I am from, there are men's jobs and there are women's jobs. This exists! As a son of hard-working parents, I have seen the difference in whom to go to for a situation. There are situations that I preferred one instead of the other. I'm sure that is the case for most people. Some children take into account the responses from both parents and choose which response they prefer. This all depends on the personality, relationship, and role a parent has in the family. In the rural parts of most countries, men usually work for the family while women have the role of caring, cleaning, and nurturing the family. What does this mean? How does this affect the family system? I believe that children who are born and raised in a system, when it is time to leave the nest, they proceed...

This week I read an article about how immigration affects the family. In the article, it talked about families making the decision, taking action, and the initial purpose for immigrating illegally. Do you know someone who has immigrated? Have you yourself immigrated? As a person who was born and raised in Ethiopia, I have seen relatives, friends, and neighbors immigrate. This is a big deal! Have you thought of the process? Where to start? How it ends? What is the leading cause of immigrating? The questions are endless. The risks are also endless. Making this journey illegally is like walking through a minefield blindfolded, hoping and praying your next step won’t be your last. Let me begin by sharing by how the thought of leaving begins. A person may immigrate because of safety, better chances, better education for the children, civil unrest in their origin country, etc… I will only focus on how this affects the family. To start, a small background on people emigrating from Ethiopi...

During our discussions this week, we dived into several theories that are frequently applied to family dynamics. A theory refers to a phenomenon that can be tested and measured. Among the commonly recognized theories are System Theory, Exchange Theory, Symbolic Interaction Theory, and Conflict Theory. System Theories: A variety of theories fall under this category. There is a system that already takes place with out you realizing it sometimes. For instance, the seat you choose to take at a dinner table, the way you converse with others, the way we do things. All these example fall under a general heading of the system theory. Exchange theory: this is one theory you probably have seen growing up. “You owe me one” or “Whats in it for me” are some popular expression of exchange theory. Most times we don’t get what we want and this is where we try to give something in exchange for what we desire. I remember when I was in middle school and had a task to do at home I try to make an excha...