What have you learned from eight weeks of blogging about emerging adults and family rituals?
I have learned a lot over these last eight weeks! In the beginning, I learned how to create and design my blog. It took me a lot of time just trying to figure out the format. After that, I started to look for helpful resources I thought might inspire emerging adults like myself. Every week, I tried to find useful games, activities, photos and websites to help my readers learn more and to give them something to share with their families. I also learned how to describe family rituals to readers in such a way they could easily be understood. I wanted to provide specific details to help readers follow my lead and practice the ritual successfully with their family members.
To be honest, I had a hard time writing my blog for what I knew would be a mostly English-speaking audience not only because of the language barrier but also because time was limited. But I very much enjoyed every moment because I believe my blogging helped inform others. I liked sharing ideas and knowledge with my readers in a way that could help them enhance their family relationships and influence how they interact with their family members in the future. Some readers told me they appreciated all the information I provided and said the resources I included helped them a lot. Other readers shared their own experiences with family rituals; I found their stories fascinating. Based on all the comments I have read, I know everything I did was worth it!
The purpose of my project was to empower emerging adults to positively enhance the relationship with their parents during the transition to adulthood. I think my blog accomplished this, and I hope all of my readers would agree! Although some of them were part of a“captive audience” trying to earn course credit, I was really moved by their thoughtful contributions to my blog. And if they’re still reading this blog, I hope they know how much I appreciated their comments!
Reading through the last several weeks of comments, I think I was able to encourage emerging adults to initiate family rituals within their families in order to enhance the six characteristics of strong families as identified by DeFrain & Stinnett (2008). One reader stated, “Family game night was a great ritual…and I think…it made my family [members] and I feel closer to each other.”Another reader identified the ritual targeting appreciation and affection in families and indicated she plans to use love notes someday when she has her own family and children. Regarding family storytelling, one reader stated, “I really enjoyed this ritual, and I plan on doing more storytelling rituals with my family again!” And after sharing a place that was meaningful to him with his family members, one reader said he was surprised that sharing something so little could bring his family together and help them feel more connected to each other. Another reader specifically mentioned an improved relationship with her sibling: “Your idea made a difference in me and my brother’s relationship and I appreciate it!”
Among those commenting, family dinner seemed to be a popular ritual to try with their families. One reader shared that having a family dinner with her family had been a great idea and that her family members all planned to keep it going. Another reader said she loved the idea of enjoyable time together. She thought the conversation starters would give their time together more structure, pushing them further into meaningful conversations.
Creating a family journal in which family members could share their stressors also seemed especially meaningful to the emerging adults and their families participating in my project. One reader commented that after she and her family created a family journal, she realized rituals can make a family feel closer and make families talk in ways they haven't in awhile. One reader hoped that the family journal she started could continue. “It seems time-consuming…when our schedules get busy, but in the long run if we can take a few minutes here and there to talk and listen to one another, I feel this ritual will continue to be beneficial.” Another reader thinks she and her mother will continue to write in their journal so they can continue their “new and improved”relationship.
All of these comments encourage me to continue my blogging. And I hope my readers will continue to comment, even if they’re not earning course credit! I am so happy these rituals were able to help enhance family relationships. They make me feel stronger and more confident in what I can offer as a family professional. I very much enjoyed this experience!