Let's Wrap This Semester Up!

Well what can I say to wrap this blog up?
   I really learned a lot more then I ever imagined I would, also this class turned out to be completely different then what I was expecting and I can honestly say that I am pleased with what it really turned out to be.
   I feel like I have really learned a lot of things that I would have never thought about especially when it comes to things like culture/diversity in families and getting ready for marriage.
   This course really opened my eyes to a lot of topics that I have always known about but never really thought or pondered on. Throughout this class I found myself relating a lot to my own family and personal experiences which really helped my learning process and made certain topic really stick with me.
   I also really enjoyed how we always had class discussions about every topic. I think that really helped me understand certain things better because people in class would put it in a way I have never thought of before or have ideas and explain them in a way I could really understand.
  I am really happy that I took this course and enjoyed it so much I think it will benefit me in my future both with my education and family life.
 Probably my favorite class this semester no lie just because topics were all beneficial to me personally and the way the class was set up will be sad to move on to other courses but its that time of the semester again so I am going to wrap up this blog for this semester!
Rachel Escobar

Aging

So when we started talking about the aging family I was a little lost and still am because I have no idea what it is like or what to expect
    I think the aging family has to do with the kids getting older, retirement, and just moving along with life.
   When children begin to get older and leave the house I think some parents take it harder than others and that it can be a big adjustment.
   When I first left to come here my parents did not seem to sad but I know when I am home they really enjoy it and having all their children home again (well they better!). In my home I am the youngest of 3 children but we all still live at home but my sister was on a mission and as soon as she came back it was time for me to leave so my parents are not true empty nesters however, they have had there share of moving people out and saying their goodbyes.
    I know when some peoples children move out they have a hard time because the house is empty and they do not really have any one to take care of and do things for so I think that can be hard.
   While having kids leave the nest can be a hard experience I have heard some interesting stories about how things go once one spouse is retired or both.
   I think this has some issues because people do not really know what to do with all their free time and are not used to being home so much and being around each other so much. I know a family who the wife says she wants to just cry all the time because her husband just drives her nuts because he is always getting into things around the house and messing with her daily routine...(Oh No!)
  I think when the family starts "aging" it is important to talk about things and how things will work however, I guess you don't really know what to expect until it comes but it is always a good idea to think ahead. I'm just glad i do not have to be around my house for this time in my parents life haha ;)
Rachel Escobar
  

Divorce

So this week in class we talked about a kind of depressing subject...divorce and how it affects the family
I think divorce is hard on everyone in the family but the only perspective I can really see it from is from the child.
I have never been through a divorce in my own immediate family however, I have seen it in family member and close friends.
   I think that divorce makes children feel like they might have done something to make their parents not want to stay together or that they can fix it somehow by being extremely well behaved so their parents will not fight or acting out so the parents will fill bad. Again I do not have a lot of experience dealing with this I have just seen and observed out some people I know who have been divorced.
   A friend I had back in high school whose parents were getting a divorce never wanted to be home and said she felt helpless in the situation. I think that is how I would feel helpless and sad I think it is hard on children because they have to realize that their parents the one thing they are suppose to count on and be a back bone kind of, break apart so it is hard to know what or how to deal with it.
again I do not know much about divorce first hand but from what I have seen and understand from the child's prospective it is by no means easy.
Rachel Escobar

Parenting

So this week in class we talked about parenting and how important it is and things that can help with it.
I think that parenting is a crucial part of a family structure because it starts to mold and create the kind of children you will have and I believe children play a big part in a family.
I really had no idea what so ever what to expect going in to this chapter because I have no idea what it is or means to be a parent. But after this week I think that the main thing we learned is that it is important to communicate while parenting and being on the same page as your partner because that will make it a little easier.
Being older now I can see what kind of parenting my parents used on me and my sibling and they kind of fall into the being really strict with the first child and more relaxed with the younger ones. I can now see how this was both a good and bad idea because with my older sister they were very strict and she rebelled a lot but with my brother and I they were very relaxed and kind of just went with the flow and I believe that I was the easier child that they did not have to worry about so much. Parenting is a big responsibility and while I still feel like I know nothing about it I have a better understanding of it. I think in order to know about it you have to experience it first hand to know what works and doesn't. I hope some day I get to experience it but for now learning about it was good enough for me

Rachel Escobar

Family Drama

    So this week inn class we discussed family problems such as crisis.
When a crisis happens in a family it is determined by the family dynamics be changed due to an event or such.
    In class we discussed many things that could be considered a family crisis positive or negative, some of the events were
-Death of a parent
-Death of a child
-Lose of a job
-Natural disasters
-Birth of a child
-Marriage
-Divorce
-Incarceration
-Addiction
    While learning about what exactly a crisis was and how it affects family roles I started thinking of past crisis in my own family. When I was younger my family really went through a lot of struggles that could definitely be considered crisis. While I don't think ill get in to all of them the one that I can remember most vividly and that was the most traumatizing and biggest crisis was our house catching fire when I was 6 years old. I remember people thinking I did not understand what was going on but I very much did. I knew everything I had and ever knew was gone just completely gone. But being so young I just kind of went along with whatever was told to me but I remember my parents being absolutely terrified because they didn't know what would come next or really what to do I remember there being a lot of stress and tension and family roles constantly switching first my mom would take control and know what to do while my dad was gone and then my dad would take control when my mom just couldn't handle it anymore and all of this went on for a while until finally there was a balanced medium. Things have gotten back to normal physically wise for example we are all fine and go about our days like normal but the family dynamic have never really gone back to the way they once were because of the crisis that we went through that really shifted out family forever mostly for the better but it is still different due to a crisis   

Its the little things

    so this week in class we talked about marriage and problems that can occur and I think the biggest one or the one that stood out the most to me was infidelity. I never really realized that it can be the smallest thins that can lead to bigger more inappropriate things
    The thing that stuck with me most form the class discussions and reading was ways to prevent infidelity. First we defined fidelity as many things like trust, loyalty, and words like that and infidelity to me is a violation of those words.
    Like I said earlier  it is the little things that can lead to bigger things that I never really thought of before like when married never being alone with a member of the opposite sex, avoiding temptations on social media, and keeping thoughts clean.
    Another one that never occurred to me was not holding on to friendships with the opposite sex once married and this never really crossed my mind but I believe that this can really cause problems if you are more concerned about what your friends are doing rather then being with your spouse
    I really had my eyes opened to small things that can lead to big problems in marriage this week in class
    Rachel Escobar

Getting Ready

    So this week in class I was not to excited about the topics we would be discussing because it was all about getting ready for marriage and problems newly wedded couples face.
    But then we started talking about little things I never even began to ever consider like sharing a bed, and  personal space, 
    I know talking about bed sharing is a little weird but I never thought about it before everyone has different sleeping habits and little "bedtime rituals" and once you are married you are going to have to maybe change your ways and then put up with someone else's. I never really realized that the small stuff such as bed sharing can make a difference because what if you like a million pillows but your partner does as well you'll always be fighting over pillows, or if you like a million blankets and they don not one will always be uncomfortable, then there is the whole blanket hog issue so many things just that go along with something as simple as sharing a bed.
    Personal space is another one because I am the kind of person that needs to go off and do their own thing but what if your partner always wants to be around you or visa versa or you both always do your own thing and there is never any time together.
    There are so many things to consider when getting married and overlooking the small stuff can make things harder so I think it is important to talk about and understand each other before you jump into marriage and this weeks class really opened my eyes to this.