{"id":37965,"date":"2019-10-17T14:50:03","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T18:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.familytoday.com\/?p=37965"},"modified":"2020-09-14T11:48:26","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T15:48:26","slug":"family-gatherings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.familytoday.com\/family\/family-gatherings\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Gatherings \u2013 Why You Should Have a Family Reunion Soon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most people see a few close family members on a regular basis. But when was the last time you got together with relatives for a family reunion? These events can create joy and special memories for adults and children alike. Here are a few reasons why you should consider having a family gathering soon:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>5 Reasons Why You Should Have a Family Gathering<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthen Family Bonds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Honor a Shared Heritage or Culture<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Celebrate Family Milestones<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connect Children to Extended Family<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create Positive Memories<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem1_mid-0\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad-container hidden-xs offset\" style=\"height: 680px !important;width: 300px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-dt_btf_inarticle1-1\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All families may have parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and grandparents. But no two families are exactly alike. Do you know what makes your family history and traditions special? And how do you go about recognizing those unique qualities in ways that will ensure they are remembered from one generation to another?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting aside a few hours or a weekend for a family gathering is beneficial for any family. This is true whether you have a small family reunion or a large get-together with your extended family. A family reunion helps us all connect with our roots, celebrate family accomplishments, and feel bonded with those we love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some families have regular reunions every year or so. Others may hold a family gathering around a significant milestone\u2014such as a wedding or anniversary. Whatever your family chooses to do, a gathering with extended family is a time for reflection and celebration.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Strengthen Family Bonds<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, technology has made it easier than ever to stay in touch with far-flung family members. If you use social media, you may be accustomed to seeing cute photos of kids or \u201cliking\u201d a funny comment from a far-away relative. But these interactions\u2014while valuable\u2014are just the tip of the iceberg. Spending time with others and relating to them in a personal, meaningful way is the key to deeper relationships.<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem2_mid-2\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A family gathering is an excellent way to get to know relatives you\u2019ve never met. You can introduce your kids to cousins who may become close friends for life. And kids can also get to know adult relatives who can support and guide them in their future. Plus, children always benefit from knowing more people who embody positive <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/love-family\/family-values\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">family values<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While building bonds with extended family is a significant benefit of any reunion, the event can be a special time for you and your children. Planning for the event can be exciting and educational for young people. And you can have many engaging discussions about family traditions and history. Although the family gathering may be brief, the deeper bonds with family endure well after the event.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Honor a Shared Heritage or Culture<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some families may have strong ties to heritage or culture that endure for generations. Others may lose touch with their ancestors or roots. Wherever your family falls on this spectrum, a reunion is the perfect time to connect with family history.<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem3_mid-3\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad-container hidden-xs offset\" style=\"height: 680px !important;width: 300px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-dt_btf_inarticle2-4\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choosing the right location can help strengthen these ties. Perhaps you could host a destination family gathering where ancestors once lived. You could schedule a tour of a nearby cultural or historic site. Or you could time your reunion around a local festival that relates to family heritage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way to build awareness of family heritage is through volunteer service. Perhaps your family members could perform service work at a church that ancestors attended.\u00a0 Simple tasks like garden clean-up or painting can have immense value to a church or other charitable organization. And service work can help family members bond as they work together towards a common goal. Be sure to research <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.familytoday.com\/parenting\/25-service-ideas-for-families-with-kids\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">service ideas for families<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> well in advance of your event to give as many people as possible the chance to participate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chances are, you\u2019ll find that at least one family member is an avid researcher or genealogist. A family gathering is a perfect time for family members to share photos or documents to help build out a family tree or history book. Creating and sharing these treasured mementos can preserve unique aspects of your family\u2019s past for future generations. And you\u2019ll be surprised just how engaged your children will be when it comes to old photos or stories of the past.<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem4_mid-5\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3><b>3. Celebrate Family Milestones<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For some families, getting together around a significant family milestone can be ideal. You can honor an important passage\u2014like a wedding, graduation, or anniversary\u2014and extend the celebration with a family get-together. The enjoyment of a family reunion can ease the travel burden for those that must cross long distances to attend.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re planning to center a family gathering around a milestone, preparation is essential. You\u2019ll likely want to schedule reunion events or activities that are separate from any milestone-related celebration. You don\u2019t want to overshadow the milestone celebrant\u2019s special day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Connect Children to Extended Family<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are our kids\u2019 best role models and teachers. When we demonstrate that we value family connections, kids will learn from our behaviors. Conversely, if we don\u2019t make time for family reunions, it\u2019s unlikely our children will either. Hosting or attending a family reunion shows our kids that family matters.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By taking part in a family reunion, children can start to see how they are the continuation of generations of people. They can feel cared for and connected to a wider circle of people. They may find some new positive role models in their extended family -- an uncle they\u2019ve not spent much time withcan embody the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.familytoday.com\/parenting\/9-qualities-of-a-good-father\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">qualities of a good father<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or an aunt can be the perfect model of a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.familytoday.com\/relationships\/12-habits-of-a-happily-married-woman\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">happily married woman<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Relationships with cousins can deepen from mere acquaintances to loyal, lifelong friends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem5_mid-6\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad-container hidden-xs offset\" style=\"height: 680px !important;width: 300px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-dt_btf_inarticle3-7\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3><b>5. Create Positive Memories<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In our hectic everyday lives, it can be hard to schedule time with our own families. Scheduling time with extended family is even more difficult. But a family reunion gives us a dedicated time to honor the importance of staying connected to relatives, near and far. It\u2019s an ideal reason for us to pause and honor the people closest to us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family gatherings give us a reason to take a break from work and school and focus on people who make life meaningful. At family events, you\u2019ll get opportunities to have intriguing conversations and share stories and laughter. You\u2019ll create positive memories and rich relationships that will stay with you and your children throughout your entire lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, many people have a hard time slowing down and focusing on the truly valuable things in life, like family. But we all know that the most special times occur when we take a break from the hustle-and-bustle of our normal routine. You may want to add some vacation time before or after a reunion to make the most of the occasion.<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem6_mid-8\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><b>Ideas for More Meaningful Family Reunions<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a little planning, you can have a family reunion that is both fun and meaningful. Be sure to plan activities that work for both kids and adults to get everyone engaged.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One great idea is setting up an icebreaker to help distant members of your family connect. If you\u2019re having a sit-down dinner, place a short questionnaire at each place setting. Ask questions about childhood memories and insights on ancestors. These topics are certain to be great conversation-starters. Plus, you can keep the questionnaires and use them to help build a family history book after the event. You could also ask the family to complete the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kinmundo.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kinmundo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> family culture assessment online ahead of time and then plan to have fun discussing and comparing family cultures at the gathering.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask relatives to bring copies of family photos or mementos to share. Provide scrapbooking materials and encourage relatives to work together to create a one-of-a-kind memory book. Another excellent idea is to have relatives bring recipes for a special family cookbook.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem7_mid-9\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad-container hidden-xs offset\" style=\"height: 680px !important;width: 300px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-dt_btf_inarticle4-10\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Games can help connect people across generations. You can design and print family crossword puzzles or word searches using online templates. Or you could create a scavenger hunt to get people moving around and talking to one another. All these ideas\u2014and more\u2014can create special family memories that last a lifetime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Surviving a Family Gathering<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family gatherings bring joy to many people. However, if there are old hurts, tensions, or disagreements, these get-togethers can be hard on some relations. And some family members may have difficult personalities or strong opinions that distress others. But you don\u2019t have to let <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.familytoday.com\/family\/how-to-deal-with-extended-family-issues\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extended family issues<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ruin a family get together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go in knowing that every family has its trouble spots. Most family reunions last from a few hours to a weekend. During that short time, many people can set their differences aside and look for common ground. If you\u2019re helping to organize the event, having structured activities can help keep relatives focused on positive topics and avoid awkward moments. It may also be wise to arrange seating to create physical space between people who have tense relationships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem8_mid-11\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you feel nervous about interacting with certain relatives, you should honor your feelings. You may need to interact with people who make you uncomfortable but remain polite and calm. Keep the conversation focused on neutral topics. You can change the subject if the conversation treads into unwanted territory. Remember that you don\u2019t need to disclose personal or emotional details about your life with anyone\u2014and that includes family members.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And it\u2019s also okay to end a conversation that is truly uncomfortable. Since family reunions are typically large events, you can say you need to go catch up with someone else and exit the discussion. Or you can volunteer to keep the event moving along. Immerse yourself in serving food or leading children\u2019s activities. At family gatherings, there is enough to do and enough people to engage with to keep you occupied and safely away from any difficult encounters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You deserve to enjoy your family reunion. Don\u2019t jeopardize your own happiness to accommodate someone who makes you feel uncomfortable. Give yourself permission to have space from anyone who challenges you and focus on deepening bonds with those who bring positive feelings into your life.<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem9_mid-12\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad-container hidden-xs offset\" style=\"height: 680px !important;width: 300px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-dt_btf_inarticle5-13\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><b>Deepen Bonds with Loved Ones at a Family Gathering<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you have them every year or once a decade, family gatherings are important. Although modern technology makes it easier to keep in touch with family, keep in mind that social media is no replacement for a face-to-face family get-together. A family can deepen bonds when they work together towards a goal, have one-on-one conversations, or share a meal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re planning a family reunion, give yourself plenty of time to prepare. You may want to survey members of your family to find dates and locations that can work. Some families opt to meet at a venue\u2014such as a hotel or resort. If so, there will be fees associated with space rentals, and those can add up if you expect a large group of attendees. You\u2019ll need to establish a budget for these costs\u2014and others such as meals or family reunion activities. And you\u2019ll need to decide if you want to fundraise or charge a fee for each family that attends. If you want to keep costs low, find out if a family member can host the event at his or her home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll also need to collect contact information for family members. Although social media can make connecting easy, remember that some people don\u2019t have accounts on social sites. If you have a large family, you may have to find other ways to invite people. A mailed invitation may be a good option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ad ad-container visible-xs-block\" style=\"height: 330px !important;\">\n    <div class=\"ad-label alt-text alt-pos-above\"><\/div>\n\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-mob_prem10plus_mid-14\" class=\"DFPAdSlot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the family gathering event, aim for a mix of structured activity and downtime. Every family has people who are full of energy and those that may want to sit in one place and talk for hours. Spend some time researching family reunion ideas and pick some that will work for the different personalities in your family. You may also find it helpful to let people opt-out of certain activities, or have two different types of activities going on at the same time, with the option to choose one or the other. With a little planning, you can make sure all guests have a good time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, it can be wise to find another family member who\u00a0 is interested in co-planning the event with you. Not only will this lessen the workload, but it tends to increase creative problem-solving. In addition, it allows you to be more thoughtful about communicating with certain family members who may be resistant to the idea of a reunion. In such cases, the co-planner with the best relationship with that individual might reach out. Or it may be more beneficial to approach that person as a unified front. In any event, trust your instincts and proceed with a positive mindset.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These days, most of us lead busy lives. Taking a break to focus on extended family is valuable for everyone. It helps us connect to our heritage and build new bonds with family. For a child, attending a family gathering can be an eye-opening experience that he or she will never forget. When you make family reunions a priority, everyone benefits. A reunion helps families learn more about each other\u2014and in the process, we learn more about ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"bnm-poll-modal\" class=\"modal\"><div class=\"modal-content\"><span class=\"modal-close\">&times;<\/span><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 Reasons Why You Should Have a Family Gathering<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":38001,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","fbia_status":""},"categories":[626],"tags":[120,8826,34,7,13,352,179],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.9 (Yoast SEO v17.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Family Gatherings | Make them Meaningful &amp; Fun [Good Times]<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Licensed marriage and family therapist Bryan Zitzman provides reasons 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