Extended Family Reflection Paper

I think my own family is considered an open system. I feel like we hold no secrets and we are able to get what we need to out on the table. I’m comfortable talking to my family about whatever. We usually are open to new ideas and can handle change well. The only few closed things I can think of are if there is a money issue, or if there is a health problem in extended family. My parents always talk about things with each other first, before informing my brother and I. I guess that is still considered being open, I think my parents feel they need to take control of the situation before they inform my brother and I. I think my family has defined the role of a partner in a family system as an individual who is there to support. My parents rely on each other to get through things in life as a team. The partner is there for the other one when they are sick, had a rough day, can’t figure something out,

I was taught in my family that the parent would always be there for the child. If the child got sick in school, one of the parents would come pick the child up. I was taught the role of the parent was to teach, encourage, support, provide, and enable the child. The parent is supposed to teach the children right from wrong, help them with homework, and discipline the child when needed. I also saw the parent as the provider of income for the family. Growing up, both of my parents worked and my father’s job was a little more flexible for taking my brother and I to the doctor, dentist, orthodontist, etc. Both parents worked to support the family and better the family’s future. The role of the parent is to also be actively involved in the children’s lives. The parent participates in helping the child learn and progress and make informed decisions. The parent is supposed to be a role model for the children, and when the children are young, it is the parent’s responsibility to take care of