Padres

Fathers represent the real world to their children, placing them in a broader social context. It is primarily to their fathers that children look for guidance regarding how to behave in the world beyond their home. Fathers are more often associated with behaviors which challenge their children and stimulate them, where mothers primarily guide and comfort them. One set of behaviors is not superior to the other. Indeed, they complement one another.

Parenting

Nowadays there is a tendency today to speak of 'parents' or 'carers' rather than 'mothers' or 'fathers'. People often say that the most important thing in raising children is to give them lots of love, something that all parents can do, regardless of whether they are a mother or a father. However, there are also many ways that mothers and fathers can bring unique strengths to their relationships with their children. Children are happier with their family situation if their parents are happy.

Communication!

Communication is not the mere verbal exchange of information in the families. It is the expression of respect, affection and concern. Communication doesn't refers to the verbal alone in the family, but physical expressions, gestures and even an affectionate look can be communicative in the family. Communication within the family is extremely important because it enables members to express their needs, wants, and concerns to each other. Open and honest communication creates an atmosphere that allows family members to express their differences as well as love and admiration for one another. It is through communication that family members are able to resolve the unavoidable problems that arise in all families.Just as effective communication is almost always found in strong, healthy families, poor communication is usually found in unhealthy family relationships. Families can improve their communication skills by following some suggestions for building effective family communication: communicating frequently, speaking clearly and directly, and being an active listener. I have learned that listening is just as important as speaking when communicating within the family. If you are actively trying to communicate but the person on the other end of the conversation is not listening that is just as effective as having a conversation with a grapefruit.

The Family Under Stress

Each family, couple, and single person will go through some form of stress in life. Trials are promised to every one of Heavenly Fathers' children. He is all knowing and the trials we experience will shape us into the people our Father in Heaven wants us to be. Although stress and tribulation can test the family greatly. At times it is hard to stay optimistic in the heart of a trial. Bitterness is often my main emotion in the middle of a hard trial. My family lost my amazing grandfather in February 2011 after losing a diligent fight against leukemia. Never have a felt such anguish over the loss of someone. It was not easy but because of it our family grew closer and learned to appreciate each member of our family more and more every day. I had to learn that God is all knowing and that he knows what he is doing. Our Father in Heaven cuts us down in order for us to grow. He is the gardener of the world.

Sexual Intimacy and Stuff

This post might be rather short because I think it is rather awkward. My favorite part about this weeks lesson is how embarrassing Brother Williams got while talking about this stuff. It was very funny and entertaining. This stuff is important to learn though, right? I guess. It was interesting to go more in depth about the whole intimate marriage situation. We are told our whole lives in young womens that those sexual things are a big sin. It was nice to learn that when you are married it is completely okay and that it is encouraged between a husband and wife. They talk about a deeper connection that occurs. I am excited to experience this deeper connection with my future husband. It really is a beautiful act of procreating life. In a relief society lesson a couple months back we were taught that Heavenly Father trusts his daughters to carry his precious cargo of life and that we should not violate this beautiful power for pleasure before marriage. It seems like a selfish act when it is put that way. It is a miracle really. It is crazy how Heavenly Father can make this happen.

Transitions to Marriage

Someone that was married in our class commented about how the first transitions into marriage are difficult. She talked about how they went from dating seriously but then getting a break from each other every night and going their separate ways for a couple hours. When you marry you are stuck with that person at all times. There are not many breaks and all of the little flaws that you can fix during your time apart are exposed. Typically in our religion we do not cohabit before we get married. We go from being told not to spend the night or too much alone time together to living with that person and being with them at all times within the matter of one day. I think it is important to be very understanding and open during the first transitions of marriage.

Preparing for Marriage

I think the whole "soul mate" epidemic is kind of silly. I have noticed that people are always searching for the next best thing in relationships. Can I find someone even better? Is he/she the absolute perfect match for me? I believe that any two worthy people that are in love and committed to their relationship can make it work. This does not mean that I think it is okay to settle with any Joe Shmoe that comes your way. Preparing to select a spouse includes a lot of pondering and praying to Heavenly Father.

Gender and Family Life

Some of the things that we talked about in this weeks discussion on gender frustrated me. In the article I read by Dean Byrd he talked about a girl or an "it" I guess who asked her professors at school to not refer to her as neither a male or a female. She did not want to be classified as either. The teachers agreed to refer to her as neither a male or female. Since when is this okay?? People are so worried about being classified that even masculinity and femininity are being taken away. People have this idea that we all need to be so incredibly equal and the same when in reality we are not. God intended for men and women to be different beings. Our sexual bodies were designed for reproduction between male and female. Its natural. Its the way it is supposed to be. Homosexuality is such a huge conflict in todays society that its almost exhausting. Is it hereditary or environmental? No one is born gay. Homosexuality is not an inborn trait. I read a quote by Dean Beard that states, "Most 'sissies' grow to be homosexual and most gay men were 'sissies' as children." This solution seems simple. Stop letting your boys be sissies as children. Hand them and football and take them deer hunting! That will solve everything!!! -Erin.

Social Class and Diversity

In class we learned that social diversity is the diverse factors surrounding our society such as race, culture, religion, age and disabilities. I consider myself to be very normal and average when it comes to social and racial diversity in this country. I am a caucasian Mormon with no real disabilities or strong cultural background. It is wrong to be average? No, but sometimes I wish I had something a little different about me. I appreciate the people in class who shared some of their cultural background with us. There was a polynesian in my class who shared some things about her culture and how her family system worked. She said that they are very big into family and have a lot of family values. They would speak English and Hawaiian in their home growing up. I appreciate other cultures and really enjoy learning about them. I loved the visual presentation that Brother Williams showed during class about the Mexican family. I was unaware of that kind of life style and continuous pattern in Mexico. I am grateful that this class is making me more culturally and socially aware of those families around me that I am not as familiar with.

Understanding Family Dynamics

I have never met two families with exactly identical dynamics and rules. Every family is different in the ways that they choose to handle certain situations and punishments. Some of my friends growing up could probably get away with murder without their parents noticing or caring. At the time I thought they were oh so lucky for being able to do whatever whenever they wanted and pleased. As I get older I appreciate my parents rules and dynamics more. I could never get away with ANYTHING without my dear mother finding out. I grew up in a small town so it definitely did not help that she had pairs of eyes everywhere I went looking out for me. I think it is important to define clear boundaries for children and teenagers. We are taught right from wrong from the very beginning but sometimes the rules within the household can be unclear. I am grateful for the wonderful examples around me that I was able to grow up seeing many different dynamics and parenting techniques.

Societal Trends

This is the turning of a new leaf. Erin Leavitt is starting a blog ladies and gentlemen. Not by choice, but for an assignment for my family relations class. I will be posting the thoughts that I have on the material we learn each week in class. The first weeks discussion is about societal trends. Here we go. Social trends. What are they? I went to a crazy paint fight dance party deal a couple weeks ago and as I kind of took a moment to take a step back and actually observe what I was doing I could not help but laugh. Was I really squeezing myself into a sea of people I did not know, fist pumping and dancing away while there was paint flying every which way through the air? This was acceptable right? What would people from a hundred years ago think if they got a caught a glimpse of what was socially acceptable now. Can you imagine their faces?! They would fall off their horse and buggy in awe! Whats the fun in being a social norm though? Honestly normal people are boring. "Hey lets go on a date. We can go out to dinner, get some froyo, and then go back to my apartment so we can watch a movie and cuddle!" BORING. I've never heard anyone say, "remember that insanely awesome time that we watched a movie together?!" That has never been said. Living outside the social norm can be very fun and makes for some great memories. When my friends and I are bored and want to make friends we like to drive around and yell at runners on the side of the road, "hey do you need a ride?! you look like you're in a hurry!." We think we are funny. Sometimes in church I like to lean forward and scratch the back of the person of thats in front of me. Most of the time its a complete stranger, but I have made a lot of friends this way! Is it socially acceptable though? Probably not. My bad. As a kid I was always so worried about being weird or different. I was a shy young chap. I would shove my lunch box into my backpack instead of carrying it around cause I did not want people to think I was dumb for not getting hot lunch. How lame, right? I was a wee bit insecure. What a horrible way to live! Thankfully I think I have slowly grown out of that and I have learned not to give a rats about what people think. Live freely people. -Erin.

List of my Classmates' blogs

Kenna Adams http://theadventuresofkennaandmike.blogspot.com/ Sarah Allison http://sarahs1st.blogspot.com/ Abby Andersen http://familyrelations160byui.blogspot.com/ Kimberly Nicole Anderson http://and12045.blogspot.com Samantha Anderson http://mostimportantunit.blogspot.com/ Sariah Andrews http://sariahandrews.blogspot.com Kimberly Ann Barker http://94kimfamily.wordpress.com Lauren Bean http://bean9.blogspot.com Jessi Bessert http://jessisfamilyrelations.blogspot.com Danielle Bingham http://makemeagoodone.blogspot.com Rachel Bloom http://familyinsights.weebly.com Diana Cludleigh http://dianalynnechudleigh.blogspot.com Kiley Crump http://kileycrump.weebly.com Brichelle Cummings http://brichelle013.blogspot.com Kayla Dale http://kaylanicoledale.blogspot.com Sidney Davis http://familyrelationsandme.blogspot.com Andrea Deschler http://andreadeschler.weebly.com Monica Diaz http://monicafamily160blog.weebly.com Britt Dickson http://pearlsofwisdom-britt.blogspot.com Lauren Dunn http://thelifelongquest.blogspot.com Whitney Dupaix http://weresodifferent.weebly.com Samantha Gile http://samanthafamily160.blogspot.com Brittany Green http://tommy-and-brittany.blogspot.com Melisse Hagman http://melisseann.blogspot.com Hilaree Hampton http://hilareehampton.blogspot.com Vanessa Hannan http://vanessa.hannanhaven.com Julie Harrison http://thatonecontagioussmile.blogspot.com Joanna Harvey http://alwayshappyjoanna.blogspot.com Sydney Holt http://www.byuifamilyrelations.blogspot.com Jessica Huff http://jessicasfouryears.blogspot.com Karissa Hughes http://karissam1992.blogspot.com Emily Hung http://emilyhunghung.blogspot.com Jolinda Jackman http://jolindalea.wordpress.com Aaron Jencks http://jencksmarriageandfamily.blogspot.com Arianna Jenkins http://gagirlsthoughts.blogspot.com Ashley Jonson http://asheejo.blogspot.com Andrea Jorgensen http://familyrelationsandrea.blogspot.com Jennifer Kendall http://jensaysohanameansfamily.blogspot.com Chandra Khan http://chandrafamily160.blogspot.com Kiah Kidd http://kiahsfamilyrelations.blogspot.com Sean Kiewra http://kiewra.wordpress.com Aubrey Krogh http://aubreykrogh.blogspot.com Erin Leavitt http://loveerinleav.blogspot.com Bria Lebeau http://briasbestblog.blogspot.com Vincent Lionetti http://vincentfamily160.blogspot.com Elizabeth Lyles http://elyles1.blogspot.com Christie Mabry http://christinasherree.blogspot.com Jessica Mahler http://jessicamahler.blogspot.com Megan Maine http://megsfirstbloggy.blogspot.com Cassie Maughan http://cassmaughan.blogspot.com Jennifer McClellan http://jennifermcclellan.blogspot.com Andrew Mossman http://andrewsfam160blog.blogspot.com Shae Muns http://blakeandshae12.blogspot.com Jackie Murphy http://jaclynnmarie.blogspot.com/ Kevin Murphy http://kevinmurphyfamilyrelations.blogspot.com Isaac Nelson http://isaacjn.blogspot.com Ashley Nichols http://anick93.blogspot.com Tori Patterson http://toripatterson.blogspot.com Nicki Perez http://nickiperez.blogspot.com Brittanee Peterson http://somethingwittyandbrilliant.blogspot.com Katie Pettingill http://demandingjourney.blogspot.com Alannah Purdie http://alannahllama62.blogspot.com Derek Rawson http://www.derekrawson.blogspot.com Alyssa Reed http://byuifaml.blogspot.com Sarah Roy http://sarahroyfamily106.blogspot.com Cassandra Scalzi http://marriageandthefam.blogspot.com Carla Selfridge http://cpearlblog.blogspot.com Alema Seu http://almaleeseu.blogspot.com Sherrie Short http://whenlifetivesyoulemons.blogspot.com McKenzie Shuman http://ballroomshus.blogspot.com Kylie Simpson http://kyliesimpsonfaml160.blogspot.com Hannah Smith http://hrsmithfamily.blogspot.com Pomaika’ilan Stanfield http://celestial--hawaiian.blogspot.com Stephanie Tello http://stephtello.blogspot.com Alysa Thatcher http://alysathatcher.blogspot.com Joelle Vance http://joellevance.weebly.com Allison Von Gunten http://allisonvongunten.blogspot.com Sam Walton http://samsoninskoo.blogspot.com Aubrey Wood http://happytobetime.blogspot.com

Family Relations class

So excited to start my new blog!