Family reunions can get a bad rap sometimes. (Uncle Harvey won’t stop talking about politics and Aunt Loretta keeps bringing up her frustrations from her childhood). But family reunions, especially regular family reunions, can have a great benefit to families, individuals, and generations to come. Let’s explore 5 benefits of regular family reunions.
1. Strengthen Family Bonds
Family reunions give families an opportunity to reconnect and bond. As they say, “A family who plays together stays together.” This is especially important and beneficial for families who are geographically dispersed and don’t see each other often. Family reunions give family members an excuse to leave the normal routine and stresses of life and focus on their family.
2. Create Memories
Family reunions are opportunities for creating lasting memories. They provide a chance for family members to share experiences, engage in fun activities, and create traditions that can be passed down through generations. These memories can be talked about, laughed about, and treasured for years to come.
3. Learn Family History
Family reunions can be a great time to share and learn about family history. Older family members can share stories and experiences, helping younger generations understand their roots and their family’s history. Younger generations can show older ones how to use social media or online platforms to explore their genealogy. As these generations work and learn together, they understand and help each other, and come to value each other more. They help each other appreciate the family’s past, understand the present, and look forward to the future. It goes far beyond simply knowing a family line.
4. Emotional Support
Family reunions provide a network of emotional support. Family members often share similar experiences, backgrounds, and values. This shared understanding can provide a sense of comfort and support that is hard to find elsewhere. Strong family relationships provide a sense of belonging and acceptance, through good times and bad. By spending time together, family members learn the joys, successes, and also the trials and defeats of each other’s lives. The family can rally around those having a hard time and celebrating successes and milestones together boosts confidence.
5. Teach Values and traditions
Family reunions can help instill and reinforce family values and traditions. They can provide a sense of belonging and identity, especially for younger family members. Some examples of family values found in families are respect, honesty and integrity, gratitude, kindness and empathy, hard work and perseverance, education and lifelong learning, love and affection, generosity and service, heritage and tradition, and so on. Family reunions are an excellent way to model, reinforce, and appreciate your family’s values.
Of course this is not a complete list of benefits for regular family reunions. Every family is different so the benefits might be a little different as well. Some regular family reunions might happen every year, every two years, or every four years. But by making family reunions a consistent part of what your family does, family members can look forward to that time they get to spend together. Family bonds are strengthened, generations are brought together, and the entire family benefits as a result.
If you are looking for an incredible place to hold your family reunion, check out Teasdale Jewel and all it has to offer in beautiful Teasdale, Utah. We’d love to host your unforgettable family reunion soon.