family members who don't get on essay

Essay about Family: What It Is and How to Nail It

Humans naturally seek belonging within families, finding comfort in knowing someone always cares. Yet, families can also stir up insecurities and mental health struggles.

Family dynamics continue to intrigue researchers across different fields. Every year, new studies explore how these relationships shape our minds and emotions.

In this article, our dissertation service will guide you through writing a family essay. You can also dive into our list of topics for inspiration and explore some standout examples to spark your creativity.

What is Family Essay

A family essay takes a close look at the bonds and experiences within families. It's a common academic assignment, especially in subjects like sociology, psychology, and literature.

So, what's involved exactly? Simply put, it's an exploration of what family signifies to you. You might reflect on cherished family memories or contemplate the portrayal of families in various media.

What sets a family essay apart is its personal touch. It allows you to express your own thoughts and experiences. Moreover, it's versatile – you can analyze family dynamics, reminisce about family customs, or explore other facets of familial life.

If you're feeling uncertain about how to write an essay about family, don't worry; you can explore different perspectives and select topics that resonate with various aspects of family life.

Tips For Writing An Essay On Family Topics

A family essay typically follows a free-form style, unless specified otherwise, and adheres to the classic 5-paragraph structure. As you jot down your thoughts, aim to infuse your essay with inspiration and the essence of creative writing, unless your family essay topics lean towards complexity or science.

Here are some easy-to-follow tips from our essay service experts:

Focus on a Specific Aspect: Instead of a broad overview, delve into a specific angle that piques your interest, such as exploring how birth order influences sibling dynamics or examining the evolving role of grandparents in modern families.
Share Personal Anecdotes: Start your family essay introduction with a personal touch by sharing stories from your own experiences. Whether it's about a favorite tradition, a special trip, or a tough time, these stories make your writing more interesting.
Use Real-life Examples: Illustrate your points with concrete examples or anecdotes. Draw from sources like movies, books, historical events, or personal interviews to bring your ideas to life.
Explore Cultural Diversity: Consider the diverse array of family structures across different cultures. Compare traditional values, extended family systems, or the unique hurdles faced by multicultural families.
Take a Stance: Engage with contentious topics such as homeschooling, reproductive technologies, or governmental policies impacting families. Ensure your arguments are supported by solid evidence.
Delve into Psychology: Explore the psychological underpinnings of family dynamics, touching on concepts like attachment theory, childhood trauma, or patterns of dysfunction within families.
Emphasize Positivity: Share uplifting stories of families overcoming adversity or discuss strategies for nurturing strong, supportive family bonds.
Offer Practical Solutions: Wrap up your essay by proposing actionable solutions to common family challenges, such as fostering better communication, achieving work-life balance, or advocating for family-friendly policies.

Family Essay Topics

When it comes to writing, essay topics about family are often considered easier because we're intimately familiar with our own families. The more you understand about your family dynamics, traditions, and experiences, the clearer your ideas become.

If you're feeling uninspired or unsure of where to start, don't worry! Below, we have compiled a list of good family essay topics to help get your creative juices flowing. Whether you're assigned this type of essay or simply want to explore the topic, these suggestions from our history essay writer are tailored to spark your imagination and prompt meaningful reflection on different aspects of family life.

So, take a moment to peruse the list. Choose the essay topics about family that resonate most with you. Then, dive in and start exploring your family's stories, traditions, and connections through your writing.

Supporting Family Through Tough Times
Staying Connected with Relatives
Empathy and Compassion in Family Life
Strengthening Bonds Through Family Gatherings
Quality Time with Family: How Vital Is It?
Navigating Family Relationships Across Generations
Learning Kindness and Generosity in a Large Family
Communication in Healthy Family Dynamics
Forgiveness in Family Conflict Resolution
Building Trust Among Extended Family
Defining Family in Today's World
Understanding Nuclear Family: Various Views and Cultural Differences
Understanding Family Dynamics: Relationships Within the Family Unit
What Defines a Family Member?
Modernizing the Nuclear Family Concept
Exploring Shared Beliefs Among Family Members
Evolution of the Concept of Family Love Over Time
Examining Family Expectations
Modern Standards and the Idea of an Ideal Family
Life Experiences and Perceptions of Family Life
Genetics and Extended Family Connections
Utilizing Family Trees for Ancestral Links
The Role of Younger Siblings in Family Dynamics
Tracing Family History Through Oral Tradition and Genealogy
Tracing Family Values Through Your Family Tree
Exploring Your Elder Sister's Legacy in the Family Tree
Connecting Daily Habits to Family History
Documenting and Preserving Your Family's Legacy
Navigating Online Records and DNA Testing for Family History
Tradition as a Tool for Family Resilience
Involving Family in Daily Life to Maintain Traditions
Creating New Traditions for a Small Family
The Role of Traditions in Family Happiness
Family Recipes and Bonding at House Parties
Quality Time: The Secret Tradition for Family Happiness
The Joy of Cousins Visiting for Christmas
Including Family in Birthday Celebrations
Balancing Traditions and Unconditional Love
Building Family Bonds Through Traditions

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Family Essay Example

For a better grasp of the essay on family, our team of skilled writers has crafted a great example. It looks into the subject matter, allowing you to explore and understand the intricacies involved in creating compelling family essays. So, check out our meticulously crafted sample to discover how to craft essays that are not only well-written but also thought-provoking and impactful.

Final Outlook

In wrapping up, let's remember: a family essay gives students a chance to showcase their academic skills and creativity by sharing personal stories. However, it's important to stick to academic standards when writing about these topics. We hope our list of topics sparked your creativity and got you on your way to a reflective journey. And if you hit a rough patch, you can just ask us to ' do my essay for me ' for top-notch results!

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FAQs on Writing an Essay about Family

Family essays seem like something school children could be assigned at elementary schools, but family is no less important than climate change for our society today, and therefore it is one of the most central research themes.

Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions on family-related topics. Before you conduct research, scroll through them and find out how to write an essay about your family.

How to Write an Essay About Your Family History?

How to write an essay about a family member, how to write an essay about family and roots, how to write an essay about the importance of family.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

How Long Should a College Essay Be: Simple Explanation

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Well | when friends are ‘like family’.

When Friends Are ‘Like Family’

A weekly essay exploring the complex connections of modern families.

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“My friends are the sisters I was meant to have,” a woman told me. Another said that her friends are more precious than her sisters because they remember things from her past that her sisters don’t and can’t, since they weren’t there. And a man commented that he didn’t enjoy a particular friend’s company all that much, but it was beside the point: “He’s family.”

I interviewed over 80 people for a book I’m writing about friendship, and was struck by how many said that one or another friend is “like family.”

These comments, and how people explained them, shed light on the nature of friendship, the nature of family, and something that lies at the heart of both: what it means to be close.

For friends, as for family, “close” is the holy grail of relationships. (In both contexts I often heard, “I wish we were closer” but never “I wish we weren’t so close.”)

What people meant by “close” could be very different, but their comments all helped me understand how friends could be like family – and why I often say of my friend Karl, “He’s like my brother.” First is longevity. We met at summer camp when I’d just turned 15, and the seeds of closeness were planted during one of those wondrous extended self-revealing teenage conversations, when we sat side by side behind the dining hall. Our friendship continued and deepened as we exchanged long letters that traversed the distance between our homes in Brooklyn and the Bronx.

After college, Karl was the one I called at 2 a.m. when I made a last-minute decision not to join the Peace Corps. Two decades later, we were traveling together when I showed him the photograph of a man I’d just met, saying, “It’s crazy but I keep thinking I’m going to marry him” – and I did.

I was there when Karl left Brown for Julliard, and, years later, when he came out as gay. Karl knew my parents, my cousins, my first husband and the other friends who have been important in my life, as I knew and know his. I visit his mother in a nursing home just as I’d visit my own, were she still alive. We can refer to anything and anyone in our pasts without having to explain.

If I’m upset about something, I call him; I trust his judgment, though I might not always follow his advice. And finally, maybe most of all, there’s comfort. I feel completely comfortable in his home, and when I’m around him, I can be completely and unselfconsciously myself.

It’s not that we don’t get on each other’s nerves. It’s that we do. A cartoon about a married couple could have been about us: A woman standing in the kitchen is saying to the man before her, “Is there anything else I can do wrong for you?” I sometimes feel that whatever I do within Karl’s view, he’ll suggest I do a different way.

All the elements making our friendship so close that Karl is like a brother were threaded through the accounts of people I interviewed. “We’re close” could mean they talk about anything; or that they see each other often; or that, though they don’t see each other often, when they do, it’s as though no time has passed: They just pick up where they left off. And sometimes “close” meant none of the above, but that they have a special connection, a connection of the heart.

There were also differences in what “anything” meant, in the phrase “We can talk about anything.” Paradoxically, it could be either very important, very personal topics, or insignificant details. A woman said of a friend, “We’re not that close; we wouldn’t talk about problems in our kids’ lives,” but, of another, “We’re not that close; we wouldn’t talk about what we’re having for dinner.”

“Like family” can mean dropping in and making plans without planning: You might call up and say, “I just made lasagna. Why don’t you come over for dinner?” Or you can invite yourself: “I’m feeling kind of low. Can I come over for dinner?”

Many grown children continue to wish that their parents or siblings could see them for who they really are, not who they wish them to be. This goal can be realized in friendship. “She gets me,” a woman said of a friend. “When I’m with her I can be myself.”

It would be easy to idealize family-like friendship as all satisfaction and cheer. And maybe for some lucky people it is. But friends can also resemble family by driving you crazy in similar ways. Why does she insist on washing dishes by hand when dishwashers do a better job of killing germs? Why does he always come exactly five minutes late?

Just as with literal families, friends who are like family can bring not only happiness but also pain, because the comfort of a close bond can sometimes morph into the restraints of bondage. The closer the bond, the greater the power to hurt – by disappointing, letting you down or, the ultimate betrayal, by dying. When a friend dies, a part of you dies, too, as you lose forever the experiences, the jokes, the references that you shared. A woman in her 70s who was mourning her lifelong best friend said the worst part was not being able to call her up and tell her how terrible she felt about her dying.

Sometimes we come to see friends as family because members of the family we grew up with live far away or feel too different, or are just too difficult to deal with. A woman who ended all contact with a sister explained that the option of cutting off a family member who brings you grief is a modern liberation, like the freedom to choose a spouse or divorce one. Holes left by rejected (or rejecting) relatives — or left by relatives lost to distance, death or circumstance — can be filled by friends who are like family. But family-like friends don’t have to be filling holes at all. Like my friend Karl, they can simply add richness, joy and, yes, at times, aggravation, that a literal family – in my case, two sisters I’m very close to — also provides.

Deborah Tannen is a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University and the author of “You Just Don’t Understand!” and “You’re Wearing THAT?”.

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Family Conflict Is Normal; It’s the Repair That Matters

Three months into the pandemic, I had the urge to see my 28-year-old daughter and her husband, 2,000 miles away. She had weathered an acute health crisis, followed by community protests that propelled them both onto the streets to serve food and clean up neighborhoods. They were coping, but the accumulation of challenges made the mom in me want to connect with and support them. So, together with my husband, my other daughter, and her husband, our family of six adults and two dogs formed a new pod inside my daughter’s home in the steamy heat of the Minneapolis summer.

As I packed, a wisp of doubt crept in. We six hadn’t lived together under the same roof, ever . Would I blow it? Would I “flap my lips,” as a friend calls it, and accidentally say something hurtful? Some time back, in a careless moment of exhaustion, I had insulted my brand-new son-in-law with a thoughtless remark. He was rightfully hurt, and it took a long letter and a phone call to get us back on track.

My own siblings and I were raised inside the intractable rupture that was my parents’ marriage. Their lifelong conflict sowed discord and division in everyone around them. I worked hard to create a different, positive family climate with my husband and our children. My old ghosts were haunting me, though, and I didn’t want to ruin a good thing.

Yet research shows that it’s not realistic, or possible, or even healthy to expect that our relationships will be harmonious all the time. Everything we know from developmental science and research on families suggests that rifts will happen—and what matters more is how you respond to them. With many families spending more time together than ever now, there are ample opportunities for tension and hurt feelings. These moments also offer ample invitations to reconnect.

Disconnections are a fact of life

Researcher Ed Tronick, together with colleague Andrew Gianino, calculated how often infants and caregivers are attuned to each other. (Attunement is a back-and-forth rhythm of interaction where partners share positive emotions.) They found that it’s surprisingly little. Even in healthy, securely attached relationships, caregivers and babies are in sync only 30% of the time. The other 70%, they’re mismatched, out of synch, or making repairs and coming back together. Cheeringly, even babies work toward repairs with their gazes, smiles, gestures, protests, and calls.

These mismatches and repairs are critical, Tronick explains. They’re important for growing children’s self-regulation, coping, and resilience. It is through these mismatches—in small, manageable doses—that babies, and later children, learn that the world does not track them perfectly. These small exposures to the micro-stress of unpleasant feelings, followed by the pleasant feelings that accompany repair, or coming back together, are what give them manageable practice in keeping their boat afloat when the waters are choppy. Put another way, if a caregiver met all of their child’s needs perfectly, it would actually get in the way of the child’s development.   “Repairing ruptures is the most essential thing in parenting,” says UCLA neuropsychiatrist Dan Siegel , director of the Mindsight Institute and author of several books on interpersonal neurobiology.

Life is a series of mismatches, miscommunications, and misattunements that are quickly repaired, says Tronick , and then again become miscoordinated and stressful, and again are repaired. This occurs thousands of times in a day, and millions of times over a year.

Greater Good in Spanish

Read this article in Spanish on La Red Hispana, the public-facing media outlet and distribution house of HCN , focused on educating, inspiring, and informing 40 million U.S. Hispanics.

Other research shows that children have more conflicts and repairs with friends than non-friends. Sibling conflict is legendary; and adults’ conflicts escalate when they become parents. If interpersonal conflict is unavoidable—and even necessary—then the only way we can maintain important relationships is to get better at re-synchronizing them, and especially at tending to repairs when they rupture.

“Relationships shrink to the size of the field of repair,” says Rick Hanson , psychologist and author of several books on the neuroscience of well-being. “But a bid for a repair is one of the sweetest and most vulnerable and important kinds of communication that humans offer to each other,” he adds. “It says you value the relationship.”

Strengthening the family fabric

In a small Canadian study , researchers examined how parents of four- to seven-year-old children strengthened, harmed, or repaired their relationships with their children. Parents said their relationships with their children were strengthened by “horizontal” or egalitarian exchanges like playing together, negotiating, taking turns, compromising, having fun, or sharing psychological intimacy—in other words, respecting and enjoying one another. Their relationships were harmed by an over-reliance on power and authority, and especially by stonewalling tactics like the “silent treatment.” When missteps happened, parents repaired and restored intimacy by expressing warmth and affection, talking about what happened, and apologizing.

This model of strengthening, harming, and repairing can help you think about your own interactions. When a family relationship is already positive, there is a foundation of trust and a belief in the other’s good intentions, which helps everyone restore more easily from minor ruptures. For this reason, it helps to proactively tend the fabric of family relationships.   That can begin with simply building up an investment of positive interactions:

Spend “special time” with each child individually to create more space to deepen your one-to-one relationship. Let them control the agenda and decide how long you spend together.
Appreciate out loud, share gratitude reflections, and notice the good in your children intermittently throughout the day or week.

You also want to watch out for ways you might harm the relationship. If you’re ever unsure about a child’s motives, check their intentions behind their behaviors and don’t assume they were ill-intentioned. Language like, “I noticed that…” or “Tell me what happened…” or “And then what happened?” can help you begin to understand an experience from the child’s point of view.

A Loving Space for Kids’ Emotions

Show love to your children by helping them process emotions

When speaking to a child, consider how they might receive what you’re saying. Remember that words and silence have weight; children are “ emotional Geiger counters ” and read your feelings much more than they process your words. If you are working through feelings or traumas that have nothing to do with them, take care to be responsible for your own feelings and take a moment to calm yourself before speaking.

In this context of connection and understanding, you can then create a family culture where rifts are expected and repairs are welcomed:

Watch for tiny bids for repairs . Sometimes we have so much on our minds that we miss the look, gesture, or expression in a child that shows that what they really want is to reconnect.
Normalize requests like “I need a repair” or “Can we have a redo?” We need to be able to let others know when the relationship has been harmed.
Likewise, if you think you might have stepped on someone’s toes, circle back to check. Catching a misstep early can help.

When you’re annoyed by a family member’s behavior, try to frame your request for change in positive language; that is, say what you want them to do rather than what you don’t. Language like, “I have a request…” or “Would you be willing to…?” keeps the exchange more neutral and helps the recipient stay engaged rather than getting defensive.

You can also model healthy repairs with people around you, so they are normalized and children see their usefulness in real time. Children benefit when they watch adults resolve conflict constructively. 

Four steps to an authentic repair

There are infinite varieties of repairs, and they can vary in a number of ways, depending on your child’s age and temperament, and how serious the rift was.

Infants need physical contact and the restoration of love and security. Older children need affection and more words. Teenagers may need more complex conversations. Individual children vary in their styles—some need more words than others, and what is hurtful to one child may not faze another child. Also, your style might not match the child’s, requiring you to stretch further.

Some glitches are little and may just need a check-in, but deeper wounds need more attention. Keep the apology in proportion to the hurt. What’s important is not your judgment of how hurt someone should be, but the actual felt experience of the child’s hurt. A one-time apology may suffice, but some repairs need to be acknowledged frequently over time to really stitch that fabric back together. It’s often helpful to check in later to see if the amends are working.

While each repair is unique, authentic repairs typically involve the same steps.

1. Acknowledge the offense. First, try to understand the hurt you caused. It doesn’t matter if it was unintentional or what your reasons were. This is the time to turn off your own defense system and focus on understanding and naming the other person’s pain or anger.

Sometimes you need to check your understanding. Begin slowly: “Did I hurt you? Help me understand how.” This can be humbling and requires that we listen with an open heart as we take in the other person’s perspective.

Try not to undermine the apology by adding on any caveats, like blaming the child for being sensitive or ill-behaved or deserving of what happened. Any attempt to gloss over, minimize, or dilute the wound is not an authentic repair. Children have a keen sense for authenticity. Faking it or overwhelming them will not work.

A spiritual teacher reminded me of an old saying, “It is acknowledging the wound that gets the thorn out.” It’s what reconnects our humanity.

Making an Effective Apology

A good apology involves more than saying "sorry"

2. Express remorse. Here, a sincere “I’m sorry” is sufficient.

Don’t add anything to it. One of the mistakes adults often make, according to therapist and author Harriet Lerner , is to tack on a discipline component: “Don’t let it happen again,” or “Next time, you’re really going to get it.” This, says Lerner, is what prevents children from learning to use apologies themselves.   Apologizing can be tricky for adults. It might feel beneath us, or we may fear that we’re giving away our power. We shouldn’t have to apologize to a child, because as adults we are always right, right? Of course not. But it’s easy to get stuck in a vertical power relationship to our child that makes backtracking hard.

On the other hand, some adults—especially women, says Rick Hanson —can go overboard and be too effusive, too obsequious, or even too quick in their efforts to apologize. This can make the apology more about yourself than the person who was hurt. Or it could be a symptom of a need for one’s own boundary work.

There is no perfect formula for an apology except that it be delivered in a way that acknowledges the wound and makes amends. And there can be different paths to that. Our family sometimes uses a jokey, “You were right, I was wrong, you were right, I was wrong, you were right, I was wrong,” to playfully acknowledge light transgressions. Some apologies are nonverbal: My father atoned for missing all of my childhood birthdays when he traveled 2,000 miles to surprise me at my doorstep for an adult birthday. Words are not his strong suit, but his planning, effort, and showing up was the repair. Apologies can take on all kinds of tones and qualities.

3. Consider offering a brief explanation. If you sense that the other person is open to listening, you can provide a brief explanation of your point of view, but use caution, as this can be a slippery slope. Feel into how much is enough. The focus of the apology is on the wounded person’s experience. If an explanation helps, fine, but it shouldn’t derail the intent. This is not the time to add in your own grievances—that’s a conversation for a different time.

4. Express your sincere intention to fix the situation and to prevent it from happening again. With a child, especially, try to be concrete and actionable about how the same mistake can be prevented in the future. “I’m going to try really hard to…” and “Let’s check back in to see how it’s feeling…” can be a start.

Remember to forgive yourself, too. This is a tender process, we are all works in progress, and adults are still developing. I know I am.

Prior to our visit, my daughter and I had a phone conversation. We shared our excitement about the rare chance to spend so much time together. Then we gingerly expressed our concerns.

“I’m afraid we’ll get on each other’s nerves,” I said.

“I’m afraid I’ll be cooking and cleaning the whole time,” she replied.

So we strategized about preventing these foibles. She made a spreadsheet of chores where everyone signed up for a turn cooking and cleaning, and we discussed the space needs that people would have for working and making phone calls.

Then I drew a breath and took a page from the science. “I think we have to expect that conflicts are going to happen,” I said. “It’s how we work through them that will matter. The love is in the repair.”

This article is excerpted from a longer article on Diana Divecha’s blog, developmentalscience.com.

About the Author

Diana Divecha

Diana Divecha, Ph.D. , is a developmental psychologist, an assistant clinical professor at the Yale Child Study Center and Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and on the advisory board of the Greater Good Science Center. Her blog is developmentalscience.com .

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Family Relationships — Importance of Family Relationships

Importance of Family Relationships

Categories: Family Relationships Parent-Child Relationship

About this sample

Words: 515 |

Published: Aug 31, 2023

Words: 515 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Emotional support and security, healthy development and identity formation, nurturing communication skills, shared traditions and cultural heritage, crisis support and resilience, socialization and moral development, interpersonal skills and conflict resolution, elderly care and generational exchange, building strong communities and societal cohesion, conclusion: the enduring significance of family bonds.

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How Should I Go About Writing My Family Essay?: Examples and Tips

Family is an integral part of every individual's life. Delving into the intricate layers of family relationships and dynamics can yield a captivating essay. Here's a comprehensive guide with examples and tips to guide you through the process.

What Topics Should I Write About for My Family Essay?

Choosing the right topic is essential. Here are some suggestions:

Writing a Family Tree Dive into your roots! A family tree can be more than names and dates; it can narrate stories of ancestors, their challenges, achievements, and legacies. For instance, "When I looked into our family tree, I discovered that my great-grandfather was a sailor who traveled the world and had countless tales of adventures, some of which have become legendary bedtime stories in our family."

Describing My Family in My Essay Discuss each family member in detail. "My sister, with her fiery red hair and matching temper, is the exact opposite of my calm and analytical brother. Yet, when they come together, they create the most amazing music, with him on the piano and her singing."

Writing About a Personal Memory Share a poignant memory. "I remember the time when our cat, Whiskers, went missing. The entire family turned detectives overnight, searching for clues, putting up posters, and even setting up a 'cat trap' with her favorite treats. The adventure ended with Whiskers found sleeping peacefully in the neighbor's shed, unaware of the chaos she had caused."

Dos and Don’ts When Writing a Family Stories Essay

Be authentic.
Use vivid descriptions and dialogues.
Respect privacy; ask permission if sharing personal details.
Avoid making generalizations.
Refrain from being overly negative or critical.
Don't plagiarize; every family's story is unique.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good hook for an essay on my family? As Tolstoy once said, 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' Our family, though, has found its unique shade of happiness.
What should I include in an essay about me and my family? Descriptions of family members, memories, traditions, challenges, and lessons.
How should I start an essay all about my family? Every time I think of the word 'home,' an image of our old cottage, Sunday dinners, and loud family debates comes to mind.
How long should my essay about my family be? Length depends on the requirement; academic essays typically range from 500-1000 words, while personal essays can vary.
How do I make my family essay engaging? Incorporate stories, memories, and emotions.
Is it okay to discuss family challenges in my essay? Yes, but be sensitive and respectful.
Can I add humor to my family essay? Yes, as long as it's in good taste.

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Essay on Importance of Family for Students and Children

500 words essay on importance of family.

In today’s world when everything is losing its meaning, we need to realize the importance of family more than ever. While the world is becoming more modern and advanced, the meaning of family and what stands for remains the same.

A family is a group of people who are related by blood or heritage. These people are linked not only by blood but also by compassion, love, and support. A person’s character and personality are shaped by his or her family. There are various forms of families in today’s society. It is further subdivided into a tight and extended family (nuclear family, single parent, step-family, grandparent, cousins, etc.)

Family – A synonym for trust, comfort, love, care, happiness and belonging. Family is the relationship that we share from the moment we are born into this world. People that take care of us and help us grow are what we call family, and they become lifelines for us to live. Family members have an important role in deciding an individual’s success or failure in life since they provide a support system and source of encouragement.

It does not matter what kind of family one belongs to. It is all equal as long as there are caring and acceptance. You may be from a joint family, same-sex partner family, nuclear family, it is all the same. The relationships we have with our members make our family strong. We all have unique relations with each family member. In addition to other things, a family is the strongest unit in one’s life.

Things That Strengthens The Family

A family is made strong through a number of factors. The most important one is of course love. You instantly think of unconditional love when you think of family. It is the first source of love you receive in your life It teaches you the meaning of love which you carry on forever in your heart.

Secondly, we see that loyalty strengthens a family. When you have a family, you are devoted to them. You stick by them through the hard times and celebrate in their happy times. A family always supports and backs each other. They stand up for each other in front of a third party trying to harm them proving their loyalty.

Most importantly, the things one learns from their family brings them closer. For instance, we learn how to deal with the world through our family first. They are our first school and this teaching strengthens the bond. It gives us reason to stand by each other as we share the same values.

No matter what the situation arises, your family will never leave you alone. They will always stand alongside you to overcome the hardships in life. If anyone is dealing with any kind of trouble, even a small talk about it to the family will make ones’ mind lighter and will give them a sense of hope, an inner sense of strength to fight those problems.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Importance of Family

One cannot emphasize enough on the importance of family. They play a great role in our lives and make us better human beings. The one lucky enough to have a family often do not realize the value of a family.

However, those who do not have families know their worth. A family is our source of strength. It teaches us what relationships mean. They help us create meaningful relationships in the outside world. The love we inherit from our families, we pass on to our independent relationships.

Moreover, families teach us better communication . When we spend time with our families and love each other and communicate openly, we create a better future for ourselves. When we stay connected with our families, we learn to connect better with the world.

Similarly, families teach us patience. It gets tough sometimes to be patient with our family members. Yet we remain so out of love and respect. Thus, it teaches us patience to deal better with the world. Families boost our confidence and make us feel loved. They are the pillars of our strength who never fall instead keep us strong so we become better people.

We learn the values of love, respect, faith, hope, caring, cultures, ethics, traditions, and everything else that concerns us through our families. Being raised in a loving household provides a solid foundation for anyone.

People develop a value system inside their family structure in addition to life lessons. They learn what their family considers to be proper and wrong, as well as what the community considers to be significant.

Families are the epicentres of tradition. Many families keep on traditions by sharing stories from the past over the years. This allows you to reconnect with family relatives who are no longer alive. A child raised in this type of household feels as if they are a part of something bigger than themselves. They’ll be proud to be a part of a community that has had ups and downs. Communities thrive when families are strong. This, in turn, contributes to a robust society.

Q.1 What strengthens a family?

A.1 A family’s strength is made up of many factors. It is made of love that teaches us to love others unconditionally. Loyalty strengthens a family which makes the members be loyal to other people as well. Most importantly, acceptance and understanding strengthen a family.

Q.2 Why is family important?

A.2 Families are very important components of society and people’s lives. They teach us a lot about life and relationships. They love us and treat us valuably. They boost our self-confidence and make us feel valued. In addition, they teach us patience to deal with others in a graceful and accepting manner.

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620 Family Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Explore a wide variety of topics about family members, love, values, and more.

👨‍👩‍👦 Family Essay Structure

🏆 best family topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on family.

🎓 Simple & Easy Family Essay Titles

📌 Family Writing Prompts

⭐ Interesting Topics to Write about Family
🥇 Most Interesting Family Topics to Write about

❓ Essay Questions About Family

As a student, you are likely to get an assignment to write about the importance of relationships. That’s why you can be in need of a good friends and family topic. In this case, you’ve found the right page. Our experts have prepared a list of ideas related to the subject.

Writing a family essay is an easy way to boost your grade and explore the things that matter to you. However, to get a high grade on this assignment, it is essential to structure your paper well. Essays that are organized logically will help you to stand out from the crowd and earn your tutor’s appreciation. Here are some tips on structuring family essays:

1⃣ Narrow down the topic

If your professor didn’t provide a set of topics to choose from, you would need to decide on the focus of your essay. The concept of family is too general, and failing to narrow it down might cost you marks. Think about your interests and experience. Do you want to write about what family means to you? Or would you rather write an essay on family problems? Whatever your interests are, choose a subject that can be explored in-depth within the specified page limit.

2⃣ Check samples online

This is an excellent way to prepare for writing your essay because you can examine how other people structured their work. Luckily, there are many family essay examples and sample papers online that you could use. While reading those, note the key points and how they follow one another in a sequence. Consider how the structure of each paper can be improved to make it more coherent. Did the writer miss some points? Did they provide examples in support of each argument? Write out your notes to keep them in mind while working on your essay.

3⃣ Start by writing one to three titles at the top of the page

Family essay titles tend to be very generic, so you need to choose one that suits the intended content of the paper. Examine each title to see if it is precise and can catch the reader’s attention immediately. For example, if you would like to write about a family relationship, you could use a quote about the importance of family as a title.

4⃣ Create an outline based on your key points

There are typically three parts in an essay: introduction, main body, and conclusion. The first part should contain the most basic information about the topic, as well as your purpose or thesis statement. A family essay body is where you present the main ideas and arguments in a logical sequence. The conclusion should be the last part you write, so you don’t need to plan it along with the other two components. After writing the outline, go through each point again to see if they link together nicely. If not, see if you could move some points around to make them fall into a logical sequence.

5⃣ Add evidence to support each point

Once you’ve completed the outline, add more details to each section. You could use the evidence gathered as part of secondary research, as well as your thoughts and personal experience. For instance, if you have a section about what a happy family means, think whether you know any families that fit the description or explore statistics on happiness among married couples with children.

Following the tips above will help you to create a backbone for your paper, making writing a hundred times easier! If you need any more assistance with your essay, search our website for family essay topics, writing advice, and more!

The Role of Family in the Process of Socialization Although each parent in a family has a role in the upbringing of a child, in many cases, the mother initiates the socialization process in a child.
Family as an Agent of Socialization Essay The family regardless of its nature and size is the fundamental factor in socialization. The family is a storehouse of warmth and compassion and stands in resistance to the aggressive world of trade.
Importance of Family in Society The central family values include, for example, internal ones: the unity of culture and faith in the family, mutual understanding, love, and support between parents and children.
Importance of Family Communication Essay Furthermore, the only efficient way of passing family information from the elder generation to the younger generation is effective communication between the source of the information and the recipient of the information.
Small Family and Big Family Differences and Similarities – Compare & Contrast Essay Small families Children in small families have all the chances and resources to cater for their education, up to the highest levels of education they deserve.
Family and Its Structure Classification The main function of the father in this structure is to provide and cater to the family’s needs as well as provide protection of its members.
Cybernetics and Social Construction in Family Therapy A family is a form of a system, and Cybernetics is the study of systems of all kinds. Also, the theorist noted that every patient is a therapist to another member of the family and […]
Comparison and Contrast: The Nuclear Family vs. the Traditional Family As it can be seen, although the nuclear family and the traditional family are very different from each other, there are many ways in which they also remain the same.
Family Genogram Analysis Factors This essay presents a summary and analysis of my family’s genogram by assessing the interaction and the impact of environmental factors, genetics, and heredity on my family and me.
Family in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” by Hallstrom The story is narrated by Gilbert Grape, who is the second eldest son of the family. In the Grape family, a triangle is formed between Gilbert, his mother Bonnie, and Arnie.
Single-Parent Families The chief materials that are to be used in the proposed experiment are the measurement scale to evaluate changes in adolescents’ attitudes towards single-parent families and the source of information about single-parent households.
Family Tree and Its Importance This is the basis upon which such variances of family tree as family medical tree have been suggested and used in the medical field for keeping medical information for specific families. Knowledge of this medical […]
A Family Supper The relationship between the author and the parents is strained because of the author’s decision to move to California, as explained in the story where the author states, “My relationship with my parents had become […]
What is the Family? The aim of the paper is to give a concise definition of family, and the context of family structures such as the traditional family; single parent family, blended family and cohabiting relationship families.
Balancing work and family A balance of work and family can be attained and managed if both negative dimension of the conflict and positive dimension of the employee effort of balancing work and family are considered to facilitate a […]
Bali Island in Family Trip Experience The inhabitants of this island are warm and very receptive and it is no surprise that the island has been nicknamed ‘The Island of God in Paradise.’ This descriptive essay is going to capture the […]
A House Divided: Structural Therapy With a Black Family. Case Conceptualization The present paper focuses on the family of three, including the father of the family, Carl, the mother of the family, Rosalind, and their ten-year-old son.
Family Analysis in the “Stepmom” by Chris Columbus The aim of this essay is to describe the family relationships in one of the families portrayed by the media. I recommend watching this film to everyone who is interested in the theme of family […]
Balancing Studies, Work, and Family Life As result of the numerous responsibilities that may come with these three aspects of life, it is advisable for an individual to set small, realistic, and attainable targets, be it in their work, studies, or […]
Dream Family Vacation and Its Benefits Vacation also benefits the family as a whole in that it makes it easier to understand one another as there is a close involvement hence allowing for the learning of what each person likes and […]
Family Therapy: Ethical Dilemmas One of the ethical dilemmas in the case is that of deciding whether or not to disclose the information about Breen’s relationship with her boyfriend to her parents.
Defining Characteristics of a Healthy Family A healthy family is a family where its every member is happy and lives in harmony with its other members. The given family is considered an unhealthy family, as one of its members is unhappy […]
Bowen family system theory The Family Projection Process This is an extension of the previous concept and points to the fact that the family member who has a ‘problem’ is triangulated and works to stabilize a dyad in the […]
Drug Abuse & Its Effects on Families Focusing on the family seems to be by far, the most known and effective way of finding a solution with regards to the “war on drugs” since it more promising to end the vicious cycle […]
“Public and Private Families” by Andrew J. Cherlin One advantage of the observational method is its ability to form the basis for further scientific inquiry, but its biggest drawback is the interference of too many external factors in the observation.
“Children of Heaven”: The Children’s Focus on Family Relation In spite of the fact that Ali and his sister Zahra live in poverty in the poor Tehran neighborhoods and their struggles are associated with impossibility to satisfy their basic needs, the film is not […]
Marriage and Family Challenges As a rule, one of the principal reasons for a difficult adaptation is the initially inflated requirements of one of the spouses or even both of them.
Family Therapy Model and Application: Structural Family Therapy The applicability of the structural family therapy to the case is based on the assertion that a family comprises a system, which is a part of a social grouping.
Statement for Marriage and Family Therapist Applicant My personal experience in marriage, long-term work with families within the framework of my occupational duties, and the desire to help people through life’s difficulties motivate me to become a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Jamaican Family Cultural Practices The history of the Jamaicans in the United States began in 1619 when some blacks from Jamaica, as well as from the Caribbean islands migrated to the United States.
African American Family in the “Soul Food” Movie The family in the movie, called Joseph’s family, consists of Big Mama, the head of the family, who has three daughters: Terri, Bird and Maxine.
Cultural Differences Among Families in the “Hotel Rwanda” Film Arguably, the existence of cultural differences between families across the lifespan is the most significant problem affecting the family of Rusesabagina as he attempts to play the role of a corporate manager and a family […]
Reflecting on “The Family Crucible” The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of selected passages in the book and the application of these passages in understanding family relationships and dynamics in the context of family therapy.
The Trip of a Lifetime for a Family of Four: Project Plan The project implies planning the trip of lifetime for a family of four during three weeks with a budget of $35,000.
The Family as the Basic Social Unit Furthermore, liberals, such as Archard, argue that the family is characterized by the roles and responsibilities that are evident in family privacy and the protection of intimacy.
Social Factors in the Families Cherlin also says the three-status groups of people in the society comprise of college-educated, high school educated, and no high school-educated groups. The poverty limit is a measure of income that represents the product of […]
Wonder Movie: A Miracle of Family In addition, the mother always acts as the peacemaker: during the dinner on the first day of school, she is the one to start the conversation to comfort others.
Elements of Strong Family In addition to the element of attention, there are other important parts to be considered in a strong and healthy family, like respect and discipline.
Representation of Family in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” According to Bandy, the selfish nature of the grandmother and her disregard to her family is evidenced when she seems to care the safety of the other family members.
Various Issues in Modern Family The age of initial sexual encounter is getting lower; this has led to unupsurge of teenage pregnancies and abortions in the short term and terminal illnesses in the long term.
Cybernetics and Parenting Styles in Family Therapy This concept will be very helpful in my future work since I will be able to notice negative behavior in children that is the result of the parenting style adopted by the parents.
The XYZ Family W, who doubles as the head of the family, is a local merchant and has a relatively small food kiosk within the Saddle Lake town.
Structural Family Therapy A chance to work with children and their families proved the idea that family therapy had to be based on trust and loyalty to the ideas; and the role of a therapist should not be […]
My Belief About Family Relationships I have chosen to discuss my belief about family relationships instead and how my father and family play an important role in shaping that belief. That is my belief in life and I know that […]
Family Life Definition and Identification The lack of a modern and conventional definition of a family has been linked to dynamism of culture and the different form that the family has assumed.
The African Family This article seeks to analyze the African family by assessing the life of Mpho ‘M’atsepo Nthunya as an African woman in the family context. The father who is the head of the family is in […]
Children of Heaven: Family Values and Norms While credit to the quality of the piece of work has been noted to embed the scriptural work and the high performance of the characters who interpreted the story, it has been argued that the […]
Family and Child Development Milestones Peter is the decision-maker and plays the role of the primary breadwinner. Cathy is the person who looks after the health of the children and family members.
Effects of Internet Addiction on Family Relationships Among Teenagers In the modern society, cyber bullying refers to the instances where the individual uses the internet to interfere with the rights and freedoms of others.
The Family from a Sociological Approach The family is the simplest form of social interaction; it forms the base of a society. The case above of dominance and unconscious division of power is seen as social stratification in the family.
Family Therapy: Bowenian and Narrative Approaches This is one of the issues that should be considered by a therapist. This is one of the aspects that can be distinguished.
Family Categories Schema: Family Strengths Analysis Because family prosperity and family strengths are closely related, the specialists may use Family Categories Schema in order to identify and cultivate the advantages of the family.
Growing Up in a Broken Family: “Found Objects” by Jennifer Egan This clearly shows that the genesis of Sasha’s behavior is linked to her missing father. In the story, the leaving of Sasha’s father has made her to mistrust all the people she is dealing with.
How the Glass Menagerie Illustrates the Breakup of Family Structures Debusscher, in this respect states that, the mention of “a double life,” could be the mask that Tom Wingfield wears to meet the world, in particular the “world of his mother and that of the […]
Significance of Family in Self-Development What we are going to discuss in this session is the importance of family in the development of an individual. Why we are focusing on this topic is to realize and recognize the role that […]
Women: Their Careers and Family Lives Importantly, she pertains to the group of women who are not regarded as less productive as she is more than 28 and she does not have children.
The Future of Families: Four Discoveries That Change Everything George describes the shift in the family decision-making process and how children have been involved in decision-making on issues affecting the entire family.
Roles of Education & Family in Frankenstein In the story, the family serves as one of the major socializing agents in society. The role of love in the family is an additional theme that can be depicted in the story.
Collaborating With Families and Community Members Effective school administrators and principals collaborate with community members, families, and the business community to mobilize community resources in order to meet the diverse community needs and interests.
Defining Extended Family as a Phenomenon It is the role of early teachers to be aware of who constitutes a child’s family and not to define the child’s family for them.
Family Versus Individual Therapy Whereas individual therapy lays focus on changing the individual only, family therapy considers the needs of the whole group and actually integrates the whole family in the recovery process of the affected individual. It is […]
Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy Finally, a comprehensive review of the self of the therapists, empirical support, and the intricacies of the therapeutic alliance will end the discourse on CBFT.
Gender Roles and Family Systems in Hispanic Culture In the Hispanic culture, amarianismo’ and amachismo’ are the terms used to determine the various behavioral expectations among the family members.
Kinship of Family In the above mentioned scenario it is certain that links that are based on blood are stronger and cannot be compared to links based on the marriage because the partners in marriage are united by […]
Definition of the Family For me, a family can be simply defined as the people whom I come home to when I need to feel loved and wanted. Who is to say what the real definition of a family […]
“Family Supper” by Ishiguro: Eastern and Western Family Attitudes Cultural Differences The Japanese people are well known for their martial arts and the writer describes his father as “the proud of the pure samurai blood that ran in the family”.
Family’s Heritage of Liberian Family There is the Mela group which is compromised of the Kissi and Gola and they are considered the oldest in the region.
Blended Families and Crises The interviewed members were the husband and the wife, and the crisis they had had was the loss of employment by the husband.
Money or Family Values First? Which Way to Go As such, family values becomes the epicenter of shaping individual behavior and actions towards the attainment of a certain good, while money assumes the position of facilitating the attainment of a certain good such as […]
The Concept of Strategic Family Therapy SFT approach rests upon the notion that families possess enduring power to change teenagers. The approach normally targets families with children possessing antisocial behaviors.
Communicating and Collaborating With Families The idea is to have an increased presence of parents of families of the children at the school. Hence, communication is critical to the success of children, both in school and beyond.
Race, Ethnicity, Family and Religion Religion on the other hand, is important as it forms the basis of ideologies that a given people would ascribe to family. This occurrence shows how religion is dear and important to the lives of […]
Marriage and Family Therapy Even though she is the one instigating therapy, she is suggesting that the therapist speaks to Leon and not her. This case, the problems is Marceline’s indecision and lack of set goals of what she […]
Family Relationship Analysis with Use of Genogram When we look at John and Mary’s relationship, we see that they have a close and stable relationship, which may have influenced their children’s and grandchildren’s communication patterns.
Fujiwara Family: Japan’s Most Powerful Clan The family of Fujiwara was one of the most powerful clans in the history of Japan. No matter whether the chief of the clan was in the government or not, he had all the necessary […]
The Modern Day Family It is the opinion of this paper that the changing nature of the present day social environment, in the form of work constraints and perceived social obligations, causes the problems that American society faces today.
Structural and Experiential Family Therapists Differences A structural family therapist could view the problem of the child by understanding relationships within the family of the child. For example, a structural family therapist could focus on deciphering how the child interacts with […]
Bowen Family Systems Theory – Psychology In this context, the theory is relevant in demonstrating that the level of stress prevalent in the family due to alcoholism and irresponsible behavior of the family head is directly responsible for the development of […]
Surrogacy and How It Affects Families Further, the use of a medical practitioner in the entire process of surrogacy considerably reduces the above events and other factors that may promote destruction of the institution of the family.
Divorce and its Impacts on Family Members The effects of divorce are experienced by each and every member of the family regardless of who was at fault.”The effects of divorce can change virtually every aspect of a person’s life including where a […]

🎓 Simple Topics about Family

Changing Notion of Nuclear Family as Portrayed in Television Shows The Simpson displays frustrations and irritations in a family and how sometimes it suffers lack of money and other important effects and it portrays nuclear family which is a very important image of the family.
Non-Traditional Families and Child Behaviorism Affects The study revealed that men have a tendency to be more homo negative than women and the society’s negative attitude towards gay and lesbian parenting could be partly attributed to external forces prevalent in society […]
The Role of Family in Political Socialization When children grow up they try to find out the political parties their parents prefer and investigate the issues that make them to be members of these parties.
Consumerism: Affecting Families Living in Poverty in the United States Hence, leading to the arising of consumerism protection acts and policies designed to protect consumers from dishonest sellers and producers, which indicates the high degree of consumer’s ignorance, and hence failure to make decisions of […]
Jewish Family Cultural Perspective In the Jewish culture – both in the classical and the ancient time – the family formed and still is a basic unit of the society and whose role in the sustenance and development of […]
Caring for a Family Member Last but not least is the psychological toll that caregiving takes on individuals due to social isolation, lack of privacy, and sleep deprivation.
Conflict Communication in Family Relationships People in conflict have to be ready to analyze their situations and problems to achieve the goals and come to a certain conclusion.
The Huxtable Family from the Cosby Show His wife, Clair Huxtable, is the matriarch of the family and a lawyer. For her, the main challenge in the family is to balance being a wife, a mother, and a professional.
A General Description of the Family The purpose of this paper is to give a general description of the family, list its main characteristics, and relate them to my family.
Personal Interests vs. Family Needs Let me first write the definition of the purpose and course of my life.”I am totally committed to fulfill the needs of my family and ensure their happiness and security, even if I have to […]
Family Conflict in Unigwe’s, Kwa’s, Gebbie’s Stories Coincidentally, “The kettle on the boat” seems to communicate the same theme that Dipita illustrates in the “honor of a woman”.
Marital and Parental Subsystems in Family In a conventional family system, these members include the husband and wife, the siblings, and the relatives who make up the extended family.
“Eat Drink Man Woman”: Confucian Ethics and Traditional Chinese Family Life The daughters are always afraid of him but in the film, the father can tell stories in different circumstances and this makes the daughters to have the urge to eat and have a deeper relationship […]
Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Its Impact on the Family Manning, Wainwright and Bennet argue that children with autism are faced with a big challenge because of the nature of the symptoms the disorder.
The Human Family Tree Development Thus, the investigation of the existing lines of descent in a human family tree allows scientists to determine the worth of connection dots and differences and similarities between the ancestors.
Family Theories in Advanced Nursing Practice At the developmental level, the model allows for evaluating the lifecycle of the family and the level of its development as a whole, and if each member is separately.
Families, Gender Relations and Social Change in Brazil The first theory applicable to the problem of domestic violence in Brazil as per the article is feminism, and its importance is defined by the controversy regarding the evolving roles of men and women.
How Families Have Changed The children who find themselves in such a family set up most often en up with a very different view of how a family works when compared to a child who came from a nucleus […]
Family Legacies It should be noted that the primary metaphor which is used in Walker’s work is the old quilts, made by previous generations of the family.
Feminist Theory of Family Therapy The purpose of this paper is to review and evaluate the feminist theory based on its model, views on mental health, goals, and the role of the counselor in the process.
Family Systems Theory and Psychosocial Assessment The focus is therefore on family members and not the individuals in a given family. In this case, therefore, the theory is used to study a particular system which is the family.
TV Shows v. The Common View of Nuclear Families In the traditional view of a nuclear family, it is the woman who is supposed to be patient with the man. It challenges the model of a happy and perfect family which was and is […]
Marriage and Family: Life Experience When we got married, a man was perceived to be the head of the family, and in his absence the wife was expected to guide the family.
Family Concept in “The Story of Us” Movie Overall, the film appears to be a great piece of film-making art representing the themes of love and affection along with a number of difficulties marriages may face after years of coupledom.”The Story of Us” […]
Family Model: Stephanie Coontz’s “What We Really Miss About the 1950s” Needless to say, the values and beliefs of the US society changed immensely, though the main question still has to be answered ‘what the family model will be like in several decades?’ I think answering […]
The Concepts and Methods of Family Therapy Despite many researchers agreeing with Neil idea that couples and families should be exposed to different kinds of treatments Gurman 91 had a different opinion saying that since it has not yet been known which […]
Family and Its Sociological Perspective First, it allows me to experience the sensation that I am not alone in the universe, as the individualities of my parents and siblings are inseparably fused with that of my own.
Family Trend Change and Disease Factor The hastening of our customs and the organization of the family as the leading structure has led to a new family trend.
Marriage and Alternative Family Arrangements In the selection of the marriage partners, individuals are required to adhere to the rules of endogamy as well as the rules of exogamy.
Narrative Family Therapy: Adolescent Mental Health In the Video, the primary contributors are the couple and the narrative therapist. The narrative therapist tries first to comprehend the viewpoint of a patient on their lives and the dominant plot and changes that […]
Understanding and Addressing Family Stress: Parental Responses and Impact on Children The spousal relationship, employment, a lack of structure in the household, and psychological suffering all contribute to stress. They are regarded as potent mediators, and therefore, offending elders indicates disrespecting the father and may lead […]
How Marginalization Affects the Health Care of Women and Families with Children Three things an advanced practice nurse can do to lessen the societal effects on less fortunate women are to build a trusting relationship with the patients, refer the patients to local support services, and keep […]
Family Intervention Strategies at a National and Local Level The social and historical background of changing patterns sufficiently explains the reasons for the contemporary family crisis in the United Kingdom.
The Story of Us (1990): A Happy Family? In The Story of Us Katie and Ben try to maintain the facade of a happy family for their children sending them to the summer camp while they understand what goes wrong in their family.
Family Issues and Adolescence in Crazy/Beautiful The film Crazy/Beautiful is a vivid example of relationships between teenage children and their parents: The problems and situations shown in the film are typical and timeless.
Family and Culture: Major Problems Facing Families Around the World Many of these family changes have come because of the result of globalization, which has occurred mainly due to the sophisticated technology available in the current world.
Family Assessment and Care Plan Some of the family members become victims of family, domestic, or sexual violence, which forces them to leave the household and live in the streets. In short, the child and family health nurse is to […]
Family Business: R&S Electronic Service Company The main issue in this company that needs to be resolved is the abuse of office by the general manager. In addition, Eddie threatens managers at the payroll department for questioning the illegal commissions awarded […]
Family System in “The Kids Are All Right” by Lisa Cholodenko Nic, who is an obstetrician, seems to be the father in the family because she caters to all the family needs, while Jules is the mother of the home.
Family Relationships Role in the Business It seems that Barry Jr, as well as the other shareholders, failed to implement family talents and skills in an effective way.
Minuchin Family Therapy of Eating Disorders It is for this reason that the family-based treatment was conceived and implemented to involve the family in the recovery of adolescents.
Social Issues of Families in Poverty With the tightened budget, parents of the families living in poverty struggle to make ends meet, and in the course of their struggles, they experience many stresses and depressions.
Family and Marriage Therapy The theory explains clearly how change is brought about because it suggests that the main objective of the therapist is to advice the client on how to achieve the best results in the future using […]
Psychodynamics Family Systems Model The maintenance of the sequence is because the new female generations adopt the roles of their coinciding gender. The level of aggression relates to the past experience of a person.
Family in US and Saudi Arabia There are differences between family composition and notion in the United States and Saudi Arabia such as choosing a partner, polygamy, and the size of family.
Family Budget: How to Live With Annual Income 15300$ Having the information about the annual income of the family and the list of the obligatory costs, it is possible to calculate the expenses of the family, the cloths they can buy and the number […]
Family Concept in “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams The play ‘The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams focuses on the life of Amanda along with her son Tom, and “weakling” daughter Laura during the year 1937 at St.
Nuclear Family vs. Single Parenting Effects on Child The family is the main environment that contributes to the behavior of a person. The family environment in which these individuals are is the key contributor to the character and behavior of individuals.
Second Child Effects on the Family The interferences to personal schedules of parents, with the responsibility of taking care of children, affects personal concentration and productivity of the parent and may lead to cases of high stress that further complicate their […]
A Typical Household Family A nuclear family is understood to mean a unit consisting of the father, mother and the children, while an extended family is comprised of the nuclear family together with the rest of the family members, […]
The Couple and Family Map and Its Main Concepts Therefore, closeness and flexibility are important concepts in the map and can describe the relationship between Rick and Louann. Moreover, the family is described as flexible because they have a good balance of stability and […]
Changing Gender Roles in Families Over Time The division of labor and traditional gender roles in the family usually consists of men doing the work while women take care of the children, other relatives, and housekeeping.
The Concept of Family Health Although over the years of nursing practice, family intervention in the process of treatment has been recognized as a mandatory attribute, the scope of the family’s influence on the patient has been significantly modified.
Family-Cultural Assessment As part of the Friedman Family Assessment Model, the strengths and weaknesses of the family will be assessed, along with the developmental stages and risk factors.
Celebrating Easter in the Family During the Covid-19 Pandemic Our family has a tradition associated with this holiday, which we practice from year to year – this is a family visit to the church.
Family Communication Overview This presentation aims to discuss the impact of family relations on the process of children’s and parents’ socialization and methods of improving family communication.I.
The Role of Family in Treating Juvenile Offenders Because of lack of communication, sometimes parents believe that their child is a victim of prejudice and has been wrongfully accused. This method is highly individualized and allows parents and community to help with the […]
“Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family’s Triumph Over Autism” by Catherine Maurice The book was published in 1994, and it was a success as parents of autistic children were waiting for someone to prove that autism was not an incurable disorder.
Incomplete Families: “The Drover’s Wife,” “The Chosen Vessel,” and “Good Country People” The first one, Henry Lawson’s “The Drover’s Wife,” is set in the Australian bush, as is the second, “The Chosen Vessel” by Barbara Baynton; and the third story is set in the American South, Flannery […]
Extended Family System There is no wonder one reconsiders and feels nostalgia for the age-old traditional family structure of the extended family system.”The basic concept of the joint family system is that more than one family come together […]
How Does Addiction Affect Families The sober fact is that the health of all members of the family is a key aspect of the improvement of relations between all individuals belonging to it and the evolution of this institution.
Family Traditions and Values in the United States The preservation of individual family traditions is an important component of the cultural heritage, and the desire to follow certain customs and pass them from generation to generation emphasizes attachment to family values.
Military Families and Their Sacrifices While the acts of heroism made by soldiers are not to be underrated, either, the great sacrifice of their families, who provide consistent support, are proud of their family members in the military, and put […]
Assessing in the Field of Marriage and Family Therapy Through assessment, the family therapist can influence the outcome of the conversations in a consultative meeting between the troubled individual and the therapist.
Genograms Role in Family and Marriage In my second marriage, the major challenge was to find a unified approach to my son and the children of my new partner.
The Nature of Aristocratic Marriage and Family in the Mid-Heian Period The poorly defined Heian marriage system denied the women the ability to react and advocate for their human rights, Seidensticker Edward.
Sociology and the Family As an example the authors explain this hypothesis as if we look at the stressful part, individuals’ and couples’ resources will meditate and moderate the association between the causes of the particular stress and the […]
Role of Marriage/Family & Singlehood Unfortunately, there are claims that the prevailing social factors within the American society have been unfavorable thus preventing women from choosing their life partners thereby leading to an increase in number of single women in […]
The Cherokees’ Family Historical Analysis Cherokees had a system of governance and security where the soldiers were trained on different methods of war, they were expected to protect the community.
Family is One of the Most Powerful Influences on an Individual’s Development From a sociological point of view, a family influences the development of an individual in a functionalistic perspective whereby the individual develops through the functions or the activities which are performed within it.
Genogram in Couple and Family Therapy In addition, the patient had a close relationship with her grandmother, and her death was a traumatic event that could negatively affect Marie’s psychological state.
Modern Families: Intimate and Personal Relationships Since Queen’s family lived in the United States and my family resided in England, this paper presents an integrated comparison of household aspects in the two countries.
Dual-Earner Families and Issues Within Them Husbands should help their wives in childrearing and chores to avoid the overburden of the latter and that they have sufficient time for educational or work purposes.
Important Values of Family, the Financial Question The family is the smallest unit in a human society, which is built as a result of a man and a woman uniting through marriage and the raising up of children.
Family Crisis Issues and Solving Them The husband becomes the only person to work and feed the family. The death of a family member is also an unpredictable source of stress and crisis within the family.
Social Media and the Family In their research, House, McGinty, and Heim investigate the influence of social networking services on the level of satisfaction in long-distance relationships.
Strategic Family Therapy In this regard, all the family members are considered to have unique experiences and behaviors that affect the experiences of the other members of the family.
Family Communication in the Captain Fantastic Film First, the paper explains patterns of family communication as a factor in shaping the environment within the family and the atmosphere for the proper upbringing of the younger generation.
Dharker’s Postcards From God Book and Carter’s Family Photograph Human poverty might have many colors, and the worth of the chosen non-literary work is in the possibility of conveying the struggle in the face of inevitability.
Home Visits and Families Empowerment The purpose of home visits is to give a more detailed assessment of the family structure, the natural or home environment, and behavior in the home environment”.

⭐ Engaging Titles about Family to Write about

School Family Community Partnership and Its Benefits
Analysis of How Australian Families Spend Their Time
Family Health: Three-Generation Genogram Analysis
Family Life Effects on Human Health
The Impact of Incarceration in the African American Family
“Oresteia” by Aeschylus and “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles: Family Tragedies
The Stages of the Family Cycle
The Modern Family Concept
Social Work and Addiction in Family Settings
Psychoanalytic Approach to Family Counselling
To What Extent Do Families Shape Children’s Lives?
Family Systems: Past and Present
The Ukita Family and the Skeen Family
A Beautiful Mind: Understanding Schizophrenia and Its Impact on the Individual and the Family
Analysis of Alice Walker’s Essay “Everyday Use” in Reference to the Idea of Power and Responsibility Within Family
Two Communication Rules in My Family
Family Health Assessment Proforma
Las Vegas as a Family Tourist Destination
Families in the Media Portrayal
Living with Down Syndrome: A Case Study from the UAE
The Role of Verbal Communication in Dynamic Families
Family Conflicts Assessment
Women’s Employment and Time Scarcity: Economic Impacts
The Roles of Families in Virtual Learning
Families and Social Class: Chapter 4 of “The Family” by Philip N. Cohen
Origins of the American Family
Stay-At-Home Mother’s Contribution to the Family Economy
Pornography and Its Influence on Families
Family Communication: A Professional Journal Article
The Family From a Social Institution Perspective
Chapter 3 of “The Family” Book by Philip N. Cohen
Leadership, Family, and Community Collaboration Project
Navigating the Ambiguity of Family
Family Health Assessment: Child Poverty, Toxic Stress
Families from a Sociological Perspective
Mental Health Nurse’s Communication With Patients and Families
The Shared Table as a Family Tradition
Family Artifact and Ethnic Identity
Traditional Family Roles’ Impact on Haitian Teens in New Jersey
Newark Emergency Services for Families’ Marketing Plan
Challenges and Approaches to Family Counseling
Unforgiveness in Marriages and Families
The Role of Family in American Poems and Short Stories
Home, Work, and Relationships in Modern Families
Developmental Psychology of an Immigrant Family
Exploring the Interplay of Family, Philosophy, and Politics
Mental Disorder: Treating a Family Member
The Early Learning Child Care Act: Family Impact Analysis
Family Counseling: Resolving Conflict and Promoting Wellness
The Role of Nurses in Family-Based Interventions
A Family-Centered Cesarean Birth: Experience and Bonding
A Mexican Family Health Assessment
Family-Centered Health Assessment and Promotion
Diversity and Its Impact on Family Form and Function
The Family-Centered Care Principles
Conference: Family System and Support
Counseling for Family Conflicts Resolution
Feminist Perspective on Family Counselling
College Education and Family Foundation
Discussion: Career and Family Roles
Workplace Discrimination: Impact of Family-Friendly Policies
Family Business Succession in Asian Countries
Non-Traditional Family Case Study
Family Diversity: Asian-Pacific Islander
Family Hui Hawaii: A Non-Profit Supporting Families
LGBTQ+ Families: Discrimination and Challenges
Health Intervention among Patients and the Families
Family Behavioral Therapy: Case Analysis
Second-Grade Class Family and Community Engagement Plan
Analysis of Family Hui Hawaii
Biomedical Technologies and Natural Family Planning
Screening Interventions and Family Factors in Improving Patient Health
Engaging Mobile Apps in Family Planning
Paid Family Leave Policy Analysis
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act’s Role
Healthcare and Family Diversity
The Contemporary Racist Realities in American Families
Family Education for Valuing the Elderly
South African-American Family Cultural Assessment
Managing Interpersonal Relationships in Family
Schools and Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Ethical Dimension of Family Therapy
Social Determinates of Health of a Family
Discussion of Family Education Aspects
The Effect of Gentrification on Low-Income Families
Family Diversities and Demographics in the USA
Case Study: A Multi-Problem Appalachian Family
Modern Day Families and Homesickness
Lobo Family: The Case of Migration
Classroom Strategies and Family Involvement
Holidays, Schools, and Family: Family Language Policy on Holiday
Initiative on Protecting Child and Family Well-Being
Social Changes and the Development of Family, Education, and Religion
Role of Family in Reducing Juvenile Delinquency
The Healthcare Cost Interview with a Family Member
Challenges of Families with Down Syndrome Children
Stable Radicals Families: Synthesis and Properties
Family Behaviors, Inequality, and Outside Childbearing Marriage
How Understanding of Family Influenced Assessment
How the Pandemic Has Stressed Families
Paid Family Medical Leave in America
Hayman-Woodward’s Paid Family Medical Leave
Modern Parenthood and Family Instability
Resource Availability for Low-Income Families in New York
Inter Families’ Football Competition Event
Therapeutic Intervention in Families
The Family Voices Organization’s Mission & Services
Communities Supporting Families
Social Mobility and Family Occupation Tree
The Family Institution and Impact of Polygamy
The Stress of Working with Families
Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies”: The Issues Surrounding Families Today
Sexual Functioning and Family Life-Cycle Stages
Obesity Risk Factors: Impact of Family Background
Family Relationship: Life-Span Development
Conservatism and Liberalism: Discussion of the Decline of Nuclear Families
Relationship: Communication Between Family Members
Delivering Care to Culturally Diverse Families
Family in America and Its Most Common Types
How Social Programs and Policies Impact the Family
Sociology of the Family: Gender Roles
“Family Relationships in What It Means to Say Phoenix Arizona” by S. Alexie
Family Ties and Obligations as the Driver of Antigone’s Actions in Sophocles’ Play
Stress as a Result of Combining Work and Family
Determining the Applicable Law on Family Matter
Sociology of the Family: Love and Relationships
Beowulf Defeats Grendel: Relationships With Family, Women, and His Own Gender
Disintegration of Family and Societal Relations in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”
Aspects of Marriage and Family Life
Family Development Center Program’s Improvement
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Families’ Issues
Gender Theory and the Division of Labor in Families
Consequences of Pandemic COVID-19: The Psychological Climate in the Family
Parenting Models in Modern Family Unit of Emigrants in the USA
The Life Model Helping Immigrant Families
Family Unit Structures Comparison
Explaining of Theories of Family Science
A Choice of a Family Vacation Destination
Navigating the System For Families Experiencing Homelessness
Social Constructionism in Couple and Family Therapy
Family Stratification Overview
Research on Families and Inequality
Ambiguous Loss: Immigration and Separation of Families
Infidelity as the Main Cause of Family Divorce
Family and Work Patterns in Contemporary British Society
Family-Centered Health and School Age and Adolescent Development
Family-Centered Health and Development: Pediatric Nurses’ Role
Impact of Chronic Illness on Families
Theories of Family Science Overview
Families Recovery From Substance Abuse
Comparing the Level of Comfort of Registered Nurses Related to Family Presence During Resuscitation
Asian Americans and Latino Families: Race and Ethnicity
The Blucare Family Organization’s Interventions
Clayton County Division of Family and Children Services
New York’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Why the Theories Matter in Child and Family Health Practice
Impactful Policy for Child and Family Health Practitioners
Programs in Family Sleep Institute
The Family’s Health Status: The Social Determinants of Health
Patient Education, Psychosocial Factors, and Family Roles in Making Decision
Federal Guidelines on Procedural Safeguards of Special Needs’ Children and Families
Family Literacy Night
The Implementation of Family-Based Therapy to Manage Anxiety Disorder in Adolescents
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Nation’s Health
Vulnerable Families: Problems With Access to Healthcare
Family Support and Family Psychoeducational Models
Family Planning Individual Case Critique
A Loss of a Family Member and Counseling
Telehealth Communication Between Family and Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Social Policy and Family Resilience
Developing an App for Building a Financial System for a Family
Children’s Corner: Family and Community Engagement Plan
Family Health Promotion Strategies
“How Home Hospice Care Facilitates Patient and Family Engagement”: Article Analysis
Two Families Social Comparison
The Modern Perception of Family
Child Development and Family Resources
“Three Years After Family Separation…” by Dickerson
The Topic of Complex Family Relations
How Family Affects Criminal Behavior: Hatred Murders
Families With a Chronically Ill Child: Issues and Techniques
Researching of Family Demographics
Disaster Planning for Families: Is Your Family Prepared?
Psychic Effects of Detached Family and Social Relations
Working With Families: Important Aspects
Challenging the “Standard North American Family”
Genogram and Genomap: Family Group Analysis
Immigrant Families and English Acquisition
Future of the Family Business in World
Family Mediation: Advantages and Disadvantages
Diversity Analysis in Families
Family Relationship in the Thappad Film
Resiliency: Community, Family, and Individual Needs
Family Style Meals in the Childcare Setting
Psychometric Evaluation of the Family-Centered Care Scale
Palliative Care: What Constitutes the Best Technique for Technicians Communication With Patients and Families?
Family/Patient-Centered Care: A Letter
Different Cases on Family Law
Family Law: Presumptions
Reasoned Decision-Making in a Family Business
The Importance of a Family Facilitator During Resuscitation
Providing Holistic Care to the Family Members: Palliative Care
Family Relationship, Childhood Delinquency, Criminality
Analysis of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
Genetic Family Historical Analysis
Conger’s Stress and Family With Children
Defining the US Family
Food Work in the Family and Gender Aspects of Food Choice
Family Nursing and Stress Theory
Debate on Effect of the Environment on Family
Family Health Assessment by Gordon
Family Plan For Specific Hazards and Risks
The Effectiveness of ICU Nurses in Reducing Stress among Family Members
Family Law: Succession and Probate Practice
Patients Lawsuits and Their Families Against Hospitals

🥇 Most Interesting Family Essay Topics

Family Law and Matrimonial Practices
Critical Appraisal on the Impact of Autism Spectrum Disorders on the Family: A Qualitative Study of Mothers’ Perspectives
Family Health History. Nursing Practice
Crime and Family Background Correlation
Family Health Assessment: Health Promotion Strategy
Should Family-Witnessed Resuscitation Be Allowed in the Emergency Department?
Gender Bias in Family Court
Modality of Family Faith and Meanings and Relationships in Family Life
Family Health Care: The Morrison Family
Cultural Aspects While Assessing the Family
Family History Project
Definitions and Discussions of the Family Leave Act
Family Values in Nursing
The Twinning Process: Biological and Family Aspects
Evaluation of the Sound Families Initiative
“Family Law Fifth Edition” by William P. Statsky
Family and Community Violence Exposure Among Youth
Family Theory Use With Dementia
Evolution of the Caregiving Experience in the Initial 2 Years Following Stroke
Nursing Care of a Family With a Stillborn
Self-Health Assessment With Reference to Family Genogram
The Issues Influencing Contemporary Australian Families
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Williams’ Family Story
Family Violence in “Story of a Girl” by Zarr
Family Professional Collaboration
Homeless Families Analysis
Feasibility of Developing a Family Business
A Phenomenological Study of Families With Drug-Using Children
The Essence of Family Nursing Theories
No Respect Given to Military Family
The MacMaster Model Family: The Williams Assessment
“Gender Differences in Work-Family Guilt in Parents of Young Children”: Quantitative Research Critique
Family Communication Comparison: Interconnected System
Social Distancing: Communication With Patients Families
Family Factors and Youth Suicide
Family and Domestic Violence: Enhancing Protective Factors
Tuareg Community Family Life
Family Systems Theory: Parenting and Family Diversity Issues
Same‐Sex Couples, Families, and Marriage
Chicago School Theory and Family Studies
PSDM Model Usage in Solving Family Conflicts
Who Does Protect Poor Families Living in the Districts of Street Gangs?
Family Medical Leave Act and it’s Effect on Organisational Policies
Gender, Family, and Unemployment in Ontario’s Great Depression
How Did the Movie “Life as We Know It” Demonstrate the Conflict in a Family Institution?
Features of Marital and Family Therapy
Family Structure, Family Process and Father Involvement
Religion, Family and Culture
Sticking Together: Family Relations Analysis
Choices and Theories: Theoretical Perspectives of the Family and Mate Selection
Genograms in Family Assessment
Competing in Preposterousness: Analyzing Barbara Bergman’s Feedback to Gary Becker’s Theory of Family
Developmental Psychology: The Impact of Family-Of-Origin on Adulthood
Women, Men, Work, and Family: An Expansionist Theory
Obesity as a Family Issue in the Community
“Family Partnerships” by Jobeth Allen
A Family Anticipating: Young Children
How Slavery Has Affected the Lives and Families of the African Americans?
“The Military Family” by James Martin
Communication Amongst Military Families
The Family Commons at Cabrillo: A Case Analysis
The Film “Avalon” by Barry Levinson and Points of View of Changes Inside American Family
The Depiction of Family Ties and Their Strong Significance in the World Mythology
Family Concepts and Traditional Values for Women
Marriage and Family Systems: Western Society and Kadara of Nigeria
First Language Acquisition in a Multilingual Family
Postpartum Psychosis: Impact on Family
Canadian and American Families: Comparative Analysis
“The Essentials of Family Therapy” by Nichols
Malay Muslim Traditions and Cultural Identity
Home-Start Family Supporting Program: Supporting Program for Children and Their Families
Family Relationships in Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper
Family Planning: Hospital Birth or Home Birth?
Family Tutoring Program Design
The American Family: Current Problems
In What Ways Did the Movie “American Beauty” Portray the Typical Family Values?
Price Discrimination in Healthcare and Family Health Care Insurance
American Family: Where We Are Today
Therapeutic Interventions in Family Therapy
Human Communication and Conflict Management in Family
Family Interaction: Psychology Reactions
Family Life as a Stage in the Preparation of a Genogram
Psychology and Sociology in Families
Family Interaction: Description of a Dysfunctional Family
Family Therapy for Treating Major Depression
Why Are Families in the World-Changing?
Universal Concept of Family: Future Perspectives
Recovering From a Traumatic Brain Injury: Cognitive Rehabilitation
Jewish Family’s Experiences During the Holocaust
The Institution of Family Analysis
Family Is a Universal Social Institution
Family and Medical Leave Act in the Workplace
Adulthood and Aging. Family Contacts and Support
Health, Social Behavior and the Study of the Family
Marriage and Family Problems as Social Issues
Family Therapy With Cultural Groups
Cohabitation: Family Environment and Life
Autism. Child and Family Assessment
Family in the Revolutionary Asia
“Decline of the Family” by Janet Z. Giele Review
“The Ecology of the Family” by Prophete A.
What Makes a Step Family a Real Family?
Marriage and Family: Women as Love Experts and Victims
Schizophrenia: The Role of Family and Effect on the Relations
Family Assessment in a Problem Oriented Record
Trends in Nursing of Families
Underground Railroad and African American Families
Romanian Families: Comparison to Canadian Ones
The Value of Families for Nurses
Television Families: What Do They Tell Us About Race Relations?
Domestic Violence in Marriage and Family
Foster Care Crisis in Georgia: Children in Substitute Families
Families in ”A Rose for Emily” and ”Yellow Wallpaper”
Psychology: Child Couple Family Therapy
Indigenous Australian Families in Health and Community
Dysfunctional Behavior Within a Family
Engaging Families in Early Childhood Learning
Family Communication Patterns and Interventions
Family as a Source of Health Beliefs and Behaviors
Genogram: Family History and System Theory
Family Factors: Gender, Religion, and Education
Family Services and Community Resources
Family Stress and Crisis: We Got Through It
Federal Welfare Policy: Assistance for Needy Families
Feelings of Families Regarding Drug Dependence: In the Light of Comprehensive Sociology
Housing Families Inc. Addressing Homelessness
Stepfamily Relationships: The Blended Family Interview
Step-Grandparents from Family Counselor’s Perspective
Family Law in South Africa and Saudi Arabia
Single Mother Families in Changing Economic Times
Family Business, Its Philosophy and Strategy
American Family Relationships: Dynamics Alterations
Children’s Psychological Issues: Abusive Behavior in Families
Family Violence in History and Nowadays
Family, Marriage, and Parenting Concepts Nowadays
Pregnancy, Parentage and Family Development
Counseling Interview in Family and Relationship Therapy
Ways of Families Construction
The Quality of Family Planning Programs
Family and Work Politics
Adapting Family Network Issue
Major Trends in the Paradigm of Family Life
Sociology of Family: Control and Violence in Relationships
Substance Abuse and Family in “The Corner” Series
Family Role Switching: Pros and Cons
The Roles in the Bringing up of Children: Family Therapy
Helping Families in Need: Concepts of Child and Youth Care
Teacher’s Communication With Families
Family Life Cycle: The Institution of Marriage
African American Family Cultural Background
Child, Youth and Family Intervention
Family Issues: Divorce and Family Mediation Process
Family Formation and Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Family Studies and Research Approaches
Asian Women and Families Today and 50 Years Ago
Disaster Planning for Families
Spirituality Application in Family Therapy
Family and Consumer Education Methodologies
Traditional Family, Its Definition and Future
Family Law: Spousal Support After Divorce in Canada
Psychoanalytic, Existential, and Family Therapies
Sunshine Laws and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Early Childhood in Family Environment
Family Types, Relationships and Dynamics
Food Insecurity and Depression in Poor Families
Poverty in American Single-Parent Families
Family Unit and Gender Roles in Society and Market
The Politics of Theorizing African American Families
Depictions of Family Life
Family Issues in the United States of the XXI Century
Re-Assessing Family Valuables
Family as a Social Institution
Sociological Significance of Family
Child Clinical Interviewing and Family Involvement
Grandparents as Parental Figures in Modern Families
Family Welfare and Divorce Policies
Counseling and Therapy for Couples: Family Resilience
Telehealth Tools to Support Family Caregivers
Interpersonal Communication Skills: Closeness in Families
Family Systems and Relationship Development
Child Neglect Index for a Boy and His Family
Family and Domestic Violence Legislation in the US
Wellness and Counseling in Family Systems Therapy
Family and Childhood Sociology and Changes
Family-School Partnerships in the United Arab Emirates
Family Aggresion and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory
Ethical Responsibilities and Families Support
Family and Relationships: New Tendencies
The Graham Family and the Washington Post Company
Religion, Family and Their Social Aspects
Long Deployment for Military Families
Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods
Family Versus Societal Needs Priority
Family Support for Patient with Kidney Failure
Family Food and Meals Traditions in Dubai History
Family Laws in the UK, South Africa, Saudi Arabia
Family Business: Success or Challenge?
Cultural Influences on Family Values and Habits
Individualized Family Service Plan vs. Education Program
Work and Family: Institutional Logic
Family Relationships in Media and Theories
Family Assessment in Payne’s Film “The Descendants”
Parental Care and Its Role in Poor Families
Presence of Family Members during Resuscitation
Complementary Conflict Patterns in Families
Family Planning in “Letters to Catherine” Blog
Disney’s Representation of Couples and Families
Black Families’ Issues in the “Soul Food” Series
Family Reaction to a Child Loss and Intervention
Fresh Food Provision for Low-Income Families
Strengthening Families Program and Its Benefits
Chronic Disease Impact on Patient’s Family
Child Abuse and Neglect and Family Practice Model
Breaking Structure of Modern Families
What Impact Does Family Size Have On Conformity?
What Makes Family Values From Regular Values?
What Makes Friends Different From Family?
What Role Does Family Play in Children’s Education?
What Role Does Love Play in Family Relationships?
Are Traditional Family Games a Thing of the Past?
Balancing Work and Family: Be a Working Mother or a Housewife?
Can Family Caregiving Substitute for Nursing Home Care?
Can Old Family Structures Meet New Economic Challenges?
Can Parental Time Commitment and Family Economic Status Influence Child?
Are Family Members More Important Than Friends?
Is Family the Most Important Agent of Socialisation?
Are Single Parent Homes a Dysfunctional Model of Family?
Did the Industrial Revolution Disrupt the American Family?
Does Changing Gender Role Affect Family Relationship?
Does Custody Law Affect Family Behavior in and Out of Marriage?
Does Family Composition Affect Social Networking?
Does Family Planning Help the Employment of Women?
Does Gay Marriage Threaten the Family?
Does Publicly Provided Home Care Substitute for Family Care?
Does Taxation Affect Marriage and Family Planning Decisions?
Does Technology Ruin Family Life?
Does the American Family Have a History?
Does the Student-Loan Burden Weigh Into the Decision to Start a Family?
Does the Welfare State Destroy the Family?
Does Work-Time Flexibility Improve the Reconciliation of Family and Work?
Family Dinners Cause Well Behave Children?
Are Social Network Sites Affecting the Family?
How Does Family Size Directly Affect Family Relationships?
How Does Family Status Affect Education?
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Sherri Gordon, CLC is a published author, certified professional life coach, and bullying prevention expert. She's also the former editor of Columbus Parent and has countless years of experience writing and researching health and social issues.

Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments.

Fizkes / iStockphoto

At a Glance

Dealing with a family member who is difficult to get along with can be challenging. You can take steps to prepare for these interactions and communicate more effectively.

Trying to figure out how to deal with difficult family members can be exhausting, overwhelming, and frustrating. Let’s talk about how to cope with challenging family members and how to take care of yourself during these interactions.

Difficult Family Relationships vs. Abuse

If a “difficult” family member is threatening your safety, manipulating or controlling you, or trying to isolate you from the rest of your family and friends, these are signs of abuse.

Family members who are negative, obnoxious, or overly dramatic are not necessarily abusive. That said, constant conflict with family can negatively affect your health. If taking steps to deal with a difficult family member hasn’t helped, you may need to limit your interactions with them.

If you're struggling to navigate a difficult relationship with a family member, you can level the playing field and neutralize some challenges. Start by reminding yourself that you have no control over someone else’s actions and behaviors. All you can control is how you respond to them.

Here are some tips for effectively managing a difficult relationship with a family member.

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Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares some signs that you need firmer boundaries in your life and how to create them. Click below to listen now.

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Think Positive

While it might be hard to see beyond what you find challenging, take some time to think about what you appreciate about a family member. When you're together, thinking about what you like about them will make it easier to avoid only zeroing in on their faults.

Meet Somewhere Neutral

Choosing a location where you both feel at ease can create a calmer atmosphere for your time together. Meeting in public can encourage people to be on their “best behavior” since they don’t want to attract attention or make a scene.

Mentally Prepare

If you know you have a gathering coming up where you will interact with difficult family members, use your experience and knowledge to your advantage and prepare yourself.

For example, if your aunt always criticizes your career choice or makes insensitive remarks about you not having children, think about how you want to respond. Knowing what you want to say in tough conversations can help you avoid being surprised by them and feel less stressed out during the interaction.

Have Empathy

Your difficult family member probably wasn’t born that way, but their life experiences have made them bitter and angry. When you’re getting annoyed by their behavior, try to look at the situation empathetically .

While having a hard life doesn’t excuse their behavior, it can help you gain some perspective on their words and actions.

If you’re feeling a little kinder toward a family member who is challenging to be around, you also might find it easier to let things “roll off your back” or even look at them with a little stress-relieving humor.

Avoid Hot Topics and Sensitive Subjects

Communicating with a difficult family member can be challenging, but you probably have at least some idea of what tends to “push their buttons” in a conversation.

If conversations about religion, politics, or money usually lead to heated arguments, try your best to avoid these topics when you’re conversing with certain members of your family. If they insist on discussing issues that make you uncomfortable, consider just listening to what they have to say without engaging in a response.

Sometimes, people want to discuss controversial or touchy subjects because they like the drama. But if you're not arguing with them or trying to prove a point, they’ll probably tire of talking about it. That said, you also have the right to excuse yourself from a conversation that’s making you uncomfortable.

Pay Attention to Your Emotions

If you're spending a lot of time with a difficult family member, check in with yourself often and keep tabs on your emotions. Know your limits and watch your stress level. If you’re upset or stressed out, try deep breathing or other relaxation techniques .

Also, look for opportunities to get a break, like going to the restroom or taking the dog for a walk. And if the interaction becomes too much, don’t be afraid to cut the visit short.

Avoid Drama

It can be challenging not to react when a family says something outrageous or obnoxious, but you must pause before responding.

What you say should be calm and measured to prevent arguments and keep you from getting pulled into the drama. You can respectfully and actively listen to your family members without getting wrapped up in the heat of the moment.

You’ve probably heard the advice to “pick your battles,” but that can be a confusing one when it feels like every conversation you have with a family member is a fight. If you’re not sure you can avoid getting sucked in and efforts to redirect the conversation (like changing the topic) haven’t worked, it might be best to step away.

Don’t Try to Fix Things

If you are at a family get-together and an argument starts or a family member has a meltdown, resist the urge to rush in and try to fix the situation. This also applies as you’re dealing with a family member over time—don’t try to “save” or “fix” them. Unless they ask you for advice, don’t give it or try to pressure them into doing or saying something differently.

Refrain From People-Pleasing

You may want to step in and try to be the mediator when family members are fighting, or you may shy away from your truth when confronted because you don’t want to upset someone.

But people-pleasing is not an effective way to interact with difficult family members and can hurt you in the long run. When you constantly put other people ahead of yourself in these situations, you lose sight of your needs.

When to Cut Off Contact With a Toxic Family Member

If your relationship with your family member is painful or abusive, the best thing for your mental well-being might be to avoid any contact with them rather than try to take steps to “make it work.”

That said, you may still see a family member you’ve cut off contact with at certain events, like weddings or funerals. Here’s how to prepare if you know you’ll have to interact with them:

If You're in Danger

If you feel like you’re in danger because of a family member’s behavior, call 911. You may have the instinct to try to protect a family member from the consequences of hurting or threatening you, but you can’t risk your safety or the safety of those around you.

Set boundaries. Decide ahead of time what things you will not tolerate and what you will do if your family member crosses a line. You don't have to share your boundaries with them unless you want to. Just make sure you honor them.
Give yourself permission to leave. Never force yourself to endure abuse for the sake of your family. If a family member verbally abuses you or bullies you, you’re allowed to leave.
Be selective about what information you share. Unfortunately, toxic family members are often not trustworthy. Be careful about the information you give them. People who abuse others often use personal information to their advantage and may break your confidence by telling others or using the information you’ve given them to manipulate you.
Consider talking with a counselor. Dealing with a difficult family relationship can be very stressful and take a lot out of you emotionally. Make sure you are getting help from a mental health professional . They can guide you through your interactions with difficult family members and help you take care of yourself in the process.

It might feel unfair that you are the only one trying to find ways to navigate a difficult family relationship, but remember that the only thing you can control in the situation is your behavior.

Learning how to cope with difficult family relationships and navigate challenging family dynamics can benefit you in the long run. Once you have the right tools, these interactions will probably become less stressful. You’ll also be able to use those coping strategies with other difficult people in your life, such as challenging coworkers or friends.

Office on Women's Health. Am I being abused? .

The Collaborative Counseling Center. Is your relationship healthy, difficult, toxic, or abusive? .

Thomas PA, Liu H, Umberson D. Family relationships and well-being . Innovation in Aging . 2017;1(3). doi:10.1093/geroni/igx025

By Sherri Gordon Sherri Gordon, CLC is a published author, certified professional life coach, and bullying prevention expert. She's also the former editor of Columbus Parent and has countless years of experience writing and researching health and social issues.

How to Deal With Family Members Who Stress You Out

Better in-the-moment responses towards difficult family members..

Posted January 26, 2018 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

“Families are like fudge…mostly sweet with lots of nuts.”

After the holidays, I see a lot of people recovering from spending too much time with their families. Before the holidays, they mistakenly thought to themselves, “This year will be different; this year we’ll have a nice time together.” But then it’s never different. The time they spent with their families was like walking on hot coals; they couldn’t wait for it to be over. It’s like all their reasoning and maturity went away when faced with close-minded comments and overly opinionated uncles. Then, to top it all off, they get mad at themselves for letting these things bother them. Can you relate?

Feeling overly agitated, like you’re going to burst whenever you’re around family, isn’t a new phenomenon. However, there are ways to better prepare yourself any time you have an unwanted family reunion.

Dealing with stressful situations in the moment

So, your annoying aunt asks why you aren’t married yet, or your parents scream at you to help them with something before you've even had a chance to close the door. Going in with a clear mind and making a deal with yourself to take on any situation in a rational way is a good start, no matter how you’re greeted. But at the same time, it’s important to acknowledge that you have the right to naturally get upset by others’ unthoughtful actions. The crucial part is knowing that just because you’re upset doesn’t mean you have the right to act out from those emotions. In fact, it will probably only make the situation worse if you retaliate.

A good place to start is by taking a few deep breaths, trying to reduce your anxiety around the stressful situation by bringing in your rational mind. Breathe out, and disengage by remaining factual. If your parents are asking you to run off and help with something, tell them you’ll look into it after you close the door and are able to say hi to everyone, or maybe even after you eat. If your pushy aunt asks you why you’re still single, make a joke. If you’re too agitated, just say you’ll talk about it later. That will give you time to relax and think about how you want to deal with the situation if you want to talk about it at all.

Sometimes just acknowledging that you’re annoyed is enough to give you room to deal with the frustration and anger . If it's not enough, practice a coping skill like deep breathing, or talk yourself down from the situation by telling yourself, “They don’t mean to be annoying,” or, “Things will calm down once I get settled.”

Develop a strong sense of self

When people fail to develop a strong self, their well-being and functioning usually depend on what others say or don’t say, instead of on what they personally think. Essentially, their sense of self-vanishes in the presence of others, especially in the presence of family. This happens because many people try to manage the anxiety of everyone in their family instead of their own. It would better serve them to look inside themselves and see how they’re managing and feeling, rather than being so concerned with others’ behaviors. When we lack a strong sense of self, we want to be and do what everyone in our family expects of us. Ignoring our own needs results in an experience of anxiety and discomfort whenever we’re surrounded by multiple family members at once.

Ask yourself, “What difference would it make if I held the belief that the people in my family can handle themselves?” Change happens when you shift the way you view a situation. Whenever an issue or argument arises in your family, do you get uncomfortable? Do you think you have to ease the situation and be the one to carry the conversation? Do you get uncomfortable when others get agitated? Then, when you can’t stand being with your family, do you believe the only solution is to distance yourself and ignore them? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re emotionally connected to others. This is normal, of course; however, there are ways you can better regulate your reactivity towards your family while staying emotionally connected to them.

By developing a sense of self, you build the ability to self-regulate and better manage your anxiety, which brings about changes that allow you to be less reactive to your family members; thus, your need for everything to go smoothly decreases, as do your expectations and feelings of distress.

Feeling less stressed around family is all about learning to manage your own part in your relationships with others, instead of trying to manage everyone else’s feelings. It means being part of your family while being able to control your own functioning at the same time. What a lot of us unknowingly do is adjust our internal functioning to help keep our family in harmony, which has adverse effects on how we feel about ourselves. By paying attention to your body, mind, and emotions when you’re interacting with your family, you become capable of balancing your co-occurring needs for togetherness and individuality.

Remember, you don't have to always agree with your family.

Family is family; they can be a source of comfort or the main source of stress at times, but they’re still a big part of your life. We think that we should agree all the time and get along in order to be a nice, functional family. However, there’s no rule that says you have to get along with everyone in your family all the time. Being related doesn’t mean you’ll get along in every situation, share the same political views, or even enjoy each other's company.

It's a fantasy to assume that just because there’s a family event, you automatically have to become a picture-perfect family to enjoy it. You’re only responsible for yourself. So be kind and respectful, but don't force yourself neglect your true views out of fear that someone else will have a different opinion. Be strong enough to excuse yourself if a conversation gets out of hand, and spend more time with your favorite cousins or siblings.

Remember, when a difficult family situation arises and anxiety is high, avoiding the issue and distancing from family isn’t particularly helpful. Work on being who you want to be, even when you’re around people who have different opinions or make annoying remarks; that includes responding in ways that are suitable for you and beneficial to your functioning and health.

Ilene S. Cohen, Ph.D. , is a psychotherapist and blogger, who teaches in the Department of Counseling at Barry University.

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Essay on My Family

List of essays on my family, essay on my family – short essay for kids in english (essay 1 – 250 words), essay on my family – for children (essay 2 – 300 words), essay on my family – paragraph (essay 3 – 400 words), essay on my family –topics (essay 4 – 500 words), essay on my family (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on my family – why i love my family (essay 6 – 500 words), essay on my family – for school students (class 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 standard) (essay 7 – 500 words), essay on my family (essay 8 – 750 words), essay on my family – long essay (essay 9 – 1000 words).

A family is one of the greatest gift god has given to all living creatures on the earth including humans. It is a privilege to have a happy family as not everyone in the world has it.

The joy of living with your parents, fighting with your siblings over petty can just make you smile the moment you think of it. In order to inculcate the values of a family in the students, we have composed some short essays for students.

These essays are suited for students of all ages and classes. Not only these essays shall give an insight on how a family should be but shall also enrich the students with the moral values of a family.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for kids, children and school students.

Family is important to every one of us and we all love our family. Wherever we go in this world and whatever we may achieve, our heart and soul will always be in our home because it is where our beautiful family is. Nothing in this world can be stronger than the bonding of the blood . The members of the same family may have differences of opinions, may quarrel often for silly things but in spite of all these it is our family that supports us during our ups and downs.

As the saying goes, “ Family is the best thing you could ever wish for. They are there for you during the ups and downs and love you no matter what”.

Contrary to this saying, we cannot choose our family as we choose our friends. But I can say that I’m blessed with a wonderful family. My family is very small with four members – my mother, my father, my elder sister and me. My family is a middle class family and my father is officially the bread winner of our family. My mother supports him financially by taking tuitions for school children.

We do not have much money or wealth but what my family has in abundance is love for each other which cannot be replaced by anything else in this world. My father and my mother are the role models to my sister and me. They struggle a lot to give us a better life. More than anything they have taught us discipline and morals of life which is helping us to lead our lives in a righteous path even today.

I cannot ask anything more to God since he has already showered me with my family which I treasure the most every second and will safeguard even in the future.

The family is a valuable god gift which plays a most crucial role in every individual’s life. I love my family very much because all of my family members stand in my good as well as bad times. From moral teachings to love and support, my family has always helped me without any demand. There is no doubt that we experience our biggest triumphs when we really connect to them.

My family is like a strong pillar for me, on which I can rely blindly anytime I require support. From my family, I have learned the social graces of loyalty & cooperation.

My family consists of my grandfather, my grandmother, my mother, my father, two young sisters and myself. My grandparents are the pillars of my family and my grandfather is the head of my family. He is the one whose decision relating to any matter is final and all of us do respect it.

Right from my childhood, my family members have prepared me for the challenges that I’ll face in the years ahead. In addition to this, all of my family members help and serve each other at times of need. These qualities that I have learnt from my family has helped me to shape my adult life in a right manner.

I am really very attached to my grandfather. He holds an excellent life experience because he has already faced so many ups and downs. My Grandfather has helped me to build my perception & vision towards society.

My family has always been there to motivate and encourage me to overcome all difficulties in life and achieve success. The role of every member in my family is unique and important in their own way. I thank God that I have grown up in a family full of love and discipline. My family values will definitely help me in becoming a better person.

A person without family and its love never becomes completely happy in his/her life. I am complete and happy with my family that includes five members. My family is a group of five including me, father, mother, brother, and sister. Family bonding is a unique type of love that gives you every lesson needed to live a harmonious life.

Growing under the supervision of a caring and loving family will increase our social values and overall well-being. Each member of my family carries out equal responsibility in sculpting the strong bonding needed for a better future and develop moral importance in each other.

My father owns a successful business of office stationery store. He uses the money to cover all our expenses and give a better lifestyle to the family. He works hard day and night to get us better education, food, home, etc. He hides all his tiredness when he comes home after a long day to spend quality time with us.

My mother is a talented homemaker who also does a part-time tailoring at home. She does all her duties with at most interest, from taking care of us to all the household chores and finds time to pursue her passion as well. She is a multi-tasker and does all the tasks from helping us in our studies to preparing delicious healthy foods to sculpt us into a better human being.

My brother is an engineering graduate and does a job in a well-known company. He is my best well-wisher and helps me in all ups and downs. My sister is also an engineering graduate and an employee in an IT company. She always finds time to help me with all my difficulties and she is my secret keeper too.

My family is a lifeline to whom I can run to, whatever may be the situation I am facing. My family guides me to be a good person and help me in nurturing good values. We, humans, are animals that live together spreading love and care for each other, and this togetherness is called family. The absence of such a divine bonding make us equal to animals.

Family value and growing in such a caring surrounding helps me to pass all the struggles and hardships that I face in my daily life. Whatever be the situation we are facing, our family will never leave us alone. My family is a blessing for me and I value everyone in my family with equal respect and love.

Most of the people in the world are blessed with having a family. A family, with whom you can share all your joys and sorrows, who is there to guide you through your growing years, who stands by you in the toughest of the situations. I too am blessed to have such a family.

My family is one the most bizarre family in the world. We are four people, my mother, my father, my younger brother and me. While my father is the one who does work for a living, it is my mother who is the boss of the house. My father is a humble person. He is an officer in a government department. My mother is a housewife. It is our mother who takes care of our studies as our father is often busy with his official assignments and even travels for days together. We just miss him when he is not at home.

He never scolds us. But, our mother is just the opposite. She wants us to remain disciplined and we often get scolded by her. However, our father comes to our rescue most of the times. My brother, still in school is the one with whom I love to spend my time the most. Not because I love to play with him, but because, being the elder sister, I enjoy instructing him and showing him who is more powerful at home. He, at a time, seems so helpless when our mother says to obey his sister. I just love that moment. But not all days are the same. I hate having to study all along while he gets to play more than me.

The Atmosphere in my Family:

We largely have a peaceful atmosphere at home. After school, our time is spent on studying, playing and watching television, which of course our mother does not like. Unlike other couples, my mother and father seldom have a fight. In fact, as soon we see an argument brewing up, one of them just withdraws and it is just rare to see a heated conversation between them. This is what I like the most about them as I feel that my parents are so cool. It is only me and brother who love to fight with each other.

However, we know that behind those fights, it is actually our love for each other which binds us together. I just enjoy being at home spending time with my parents and my brother. I just feel how bad it would be when tomorrow I and my brother shall move on for our professional lives and we shall not be able to spend much time together. However, it is the memories of today which shall be with me forever and will bring a smile on my face anytime when I feel low.

The Importance of a Family:

A family is said to be the first school of a child. It is from here you start to learn how to speak, walk and interact with the world. It is important to value the importance of a family in one’s life. At times, people feel that they are grown-ups and that their parent’s advice does not matter anymore, but that is not true. It is the elders of the family who at any given of time would know the world better than us and we should all respect our family members and love our siblings as well. It is the family who builds our character and we should feel fortunate to have a family around us.

Introduction

My family values are what I take so dear to my heart because they have made me what I am today and I plan on passing these great values to my children in future. Every family has those things, acts and values that they hold in high esteem and they cherish so much. These vales have become a part of them: most times, it is what distinguishes the traits in each family and in some ways it makes or mars the future of the family members. Same applies to my family, we have some set values that has become a part of us and it has made my life a lot better because I have become a better person who is not only valuable to himself but also to the society at large. I will be sharing some of these values with you.

My Family Values:

Some of my family values include:

1. Honesty:

This is a principle that is highly protected in my family. My dad has this saying that, “honesty is the best policy.” Ever since I was little, my family has taught me how to be honest and the benefits that lie within. Sometimes, my parents even test us in ways we were not expecting and a reward is given to the person that comes out honest. This is one of my family values that I cherish so much and I am proud that it is what my family hold in high esteem.

2. Kindness to Others:

This is not a common trait to all. My mom has this belief that if the world and everybody in it shows love and kindness to one another, there will be no hatred and wars will be eradicated. This is a family value that we cherish so much. I learnt to show love to everybody. Even when we did not have much, my parents will still give to those who are needy. My dad says that the world is like a river, we would eventually flow into one another later and you do not know the future, the person you helped today might eventually be of help to you tomorrow.

3. Education:

This is a value that has been passed from generation to generation in my family. My dad would say that education is the best legacy you can give to a child. My family does everything in their capacity for you to get a sound and benefitting education. The acquisition of knowledge is also quite important. All of us try to gain more and more knowledge because we all have a family slogan that says “knowledge is power and that power makes me a hero.”

4. Dress and Appearance:

This is a religious value we cherish in my family. My dad would say that you are addressed the way you dress. I do not want to be address wrongly and give out a wrong impression. So, our appearance really matter a lot to us and the way we dress.

Conclusion:

Every family has one thing or the other that they hold in high esteem and tend to pass on from generation to generation. This is what makes a family a united sect not because we are related by blood but because of we share the same values.

Introduction:

Why I love my family is a question that has been floating through my mind for a very long time because no matter how hard I try to pin out a reason why I love them, I just can’t find one. This can be due to fact that they mean the whole world to me and I will do anything for them. I love my family a lot and I would like to share some of the reasons why I love my family and will never trade them for anything.

Why I Love My Family:

I have a family that consists of 6 people: my father, my mother and four children which includes me. For you to understand why I love my family I will tell you a little about each of them and why I love them so much.

My father is the best father in the world: well, that’s what I say. He is a business manager. I look up to my father a lot because I will like to take a lot of his behaviours and make it mine. He taught me to be contented with whatever I have. We did not have much when I was growing up; my dad lost his job and still did not allow anything of the pressure change how he behaved to us at home. He is caring, gentle, accommodating and disciplined.

My mum is the best cook in the world. I do not know where I would be today without my mum. I owe her a lot. She is a teacher by profession and this fascinates me a lot because not only is she inculcating knowledge in the young minds of tomorrow, she is also building the future of our society at large. I want to be like my mum. I remember those times when she had to sacrifice when the most precious of her things just to make me happy. She is loving, caring, understanding, accommodating. In fact, she is everything you can ever wish for in a mother.

My elder sisters are the best. Although they can be frustrating sometimes but that is mostly because of my stubbornness. They pretend they do not really care but deep inside they do. The things they do even subconsciously say otherwise. I remember a day in elementary school, I was being bullied a boy in class. On this particular day, he hit me. Unknowing to me, my sister heard about it and she beat the boy and made him apologise to me, I felt so happy that day because I had someone who had my back.

My brother is one of the best gifts I have received. He is the last child and this gives him an opportunity to be annoying if you know what I mean. He is joyful and always ready to heed correction. There was this day, I heard him bragging to his friends about how awesome I am, and I was the happiest that day.

We all have one reason or the other on why we love our family. I love mine because they are the best gift I could ever ask for and the fact that they have been there for me through the good, bad and funny times.

Importance of family is something that is greatly overlooked and underrated in the world we live in today. The definition that the family had about one hundred years before now was very clear. Back then, a family was believed to be a unit that consisted of the father that was in charge of the finances of the family, a mother whose primary duty was to look after the home and take care of the children and then there were the children. Largely based on the region you are from, a family can also include members of the extended family like aunts, uncles and grandparents. This type of family system is referred to as joint family.

Family Importance:

A family that is important is one that is very strong. If a family is going to be very strong, there is a need for the bond between them to be very strong. Bonds that help in keeping the members of a family with each other are relationships. If there are very strong relationships among all the members of a family, there is going to be stronger commitment between all of them and the family as a unit will be very important.

Better communication is also a result of family relationships that are very strong. If all the family members can take time out to talk and know each other well, the bond between them is bound to be very strong. Even if the conversations are about big things or small things, it does not really matter. The most important thing is that all family members stay connected to one another. It is very important that they all list to each other and understand every member.

How to make Family Bonds Very Strong:

We have various things that can help our family bond to improve.

A few of them include:

1. Love: love is the most important thing we need for our bonds as a family to improve. When we love the members in our family, we will also be able to know all about privacy, intimacy, caring, belonging and sharing. When there is love in a family, the family will prosper.

2. Loyalty: loyalty is something that comes as a result of love. Family members should stay devoted to each other. It is important that we are able to count on our family to have our back anytime we are facing problems.

The importance of family can never be overstated even though we live in a different time now and our attitudes to relationships, marriage and what a family should be has changed. The family is something that we need to help share our problems and be there for us anytime we have issues. A lot of the things that were not acceptable in the past and we now see as normal. Even with all the changes that the society has effected on our family system, the family still remains the major foundation of our society and this will remain the same.

My family is the best gift I have got. A family can be simply said to mean a social group of different people in our society that includes one or more parents and also their children. In a family, every member of the family commits to other members of the family in a mutual relationship. A family is a very important unit and the smallest unit in the society. A family whether a big one or a small one is of very great importance and use to all of its members and is believed to be the unit of our society that is strongest because the society is formed from the coming together and culmination of various families.

In many cultures, the family serves a child’s first school where the child learns all about their traditions and cultures more importantly learn about all the rudimentary values in life. A family is very essential in the teaching of healthy habits and good manners to all the members of the family. It gives the members of the family the opportunity to become people with better character in our society. I feel very lucky to be born into a small and lovely family; I learnt a lot of things from my family.

I am from a middle class and average family with six members (my father, my mother, my grandmother, my grandfather, my younger brother and me). My grandfather is the head of the family and we all respect and listen to him. He is really wise and tries to advise each and every one of us using his many life experiences. He has been involved in many interesting and adventurous activities that he tells me about all the time. Most of the time, he has the final say on all of our family issues and he does his best to make all his decisions impartial.

Any time we are eating today as a family, he sits at the top of the table; we all have designated seats at the dining table. When my brother and I are available, my grandfather teaches us about our traditions and cultures. My grandfather is very friendly and has a cool and great personality and tries to talk nicely and calmly to everyone passing across his message without being rude. He helps my brother and sometimes me with our assignments. He majorly teaches us about all of the tools we need to be successful in life including punctuality, discipline, moral, cleanliness, continuity, honesty, hard work and trustworthiness.

My lovely grandmother is one of the nicest people I know, she tells my brother and I lovely stories every night. My father is a civil engineer and he is very hardworking, sincere and punctual. He is the breadwinner of the family and does his best to provide for every member of the family even if that means he has to work extra hours. My mother is very sweet and takes care of every member of the family even though she works as an accountant at a firm. She wakes up very early in the morning to make preparations for the day. My brother is a funny and jovial person that enjoys sporting activities and I love him so much.

Sometimes I wish my cousins, uncles and aunts lived with us, I love having them around. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages of having everyone around. I have highlighted some below.

Some advantages are:

1. It gives a better routine of living that can contribute to a proper growth.

2. Having a joint family helps in following the numerous principles of an equitable economy and helps teach discipline and respect. It also teaches us how to share the burden of other family members.

3. There is the understanding of having to adjust to the needs of other family members.

4. The children in a large family get to grow up in a happy environment because they have children of their age around that they can play with.

5. All the members of a joint family are usually very disciplined and responsible as everyone has to follow the instructions of the family head.

Some of the disadvantages include:

1. There is always the chance of a rift or fight between the family members because of the possible imbalance of feelings of oneness, brotherly love and feeling of generosity.

2. There is a chance of the members of the family that earn very high looking down on members of the family that do not.

The concept of family is important in India for every individual. Family defines an individual background in terms of social relations and growth. Families influence the lives of individuals from childhood to adulthood especially in decisions concerning life milestones like marriage and career paths. Indian families live together for up to four generations under one roof and they manage to maintain lose family relations compared to other families across the globe. Indian families tend to stick to their cultural practices as a family and they maintain religious practices that cut across the family. Elders in Indian families are respected by the members of the family and their opinions are considered during decision making.

What Family Really Means :

Basic knowledge defines a family as a group of people who share genetic and legal bonds. However, the concept of family means a lot more for other people than just the bond and it incorporates the concepts of culture and religion. In India, the concept of family differs from what the rest of the world perceives as family.

Families in India go beyond nuclear and extend to wider circles, whereby the extended family lives together and are closely related. The relationships in the family are strong such that cousins are considered siblings and aunts and uncles are considered parents. Family also means the unconditional love among the members of the family whereby there is support in terms of finances and emotions.

Why the Family is so important:

The family plays a central role in lives of individuals in teaching of moral values. Parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents have been known to teach the children on morality and disciplinary issue s in most cultures. Both spiritual and moral values are instilled through family. Family give a sense of belonging to individuals because they are over by the family and supported at all times.

A family will always support its members with needs including financial and emotional needs. In a family, there has been established levels of satisfaction and happiness from the joy of being together. Families also helping community development through contributions and participating in activities in the community. The family is important in the society in maintaining order, discipline and peace.

I come from a big family. My family has not moved to an urban area and so we still live as a wider circle together with the extended family. In my nuclear family, I am the first born of four children. I have one sister and two brothers who are still at school. I have three aunts and two uncles. My cousins are twelve in number and most of them are at school except for the youngest ones.

My grandparents are very old and they do not get out of the house much and are being taken care by my parents and aunts. Most of the children are always at school and the house gets quiet but during holiday, we all unite together as a full house. My family is of the middle class in terms of wealth. Our religion is Hindu and we all practice the Indian cultures and traditions. What I love about my family is that everyone is a good cook and the food is always amazing. Members of my family are kind and respectful and that is why we rarely have disputes. The family support is strong and we all love each other.

Why I love My Family:

Having a big family is interesting because the house always feels warm. As I had earlier mentioned, my family is made of good cooks, which makes me love them. There is always teamwork within the family and good relationships are maintained. I like the adventurous nature of my family because we always have fun whenever we go for holiday vacations or have a family event.

Moral cultural and spiritual values are highly cared for in the society. My family is oriented in good moral values and believe we make a good role model for the society. Despite the influence of education, the family has been able to maintain the culture and traditions of Indian people. The love that exists in my family is precious and that is the most important value of all times because what family without love?

Our Weekend Outings and House Parties:

We do not have many of these in our family because of the different schedules among the members. We only have weekend outings and house parties during holidays. Birthday parties are and weddings are the parties that we frequently have as a family. I love parties at home because the food is usually exceptionally good. Also, the dancing and happy faces. Weekend outings are usually in form of picnics and they are usually full of games.

Cousins Visit during Summer:

My family is young and only three of my cousins are in college. The rest are in high school or elementary schools. Whenever my cousins come home from school, it is a happy moment for the whole family and we host parties to welcome them home. Whenever my older cousins are at home, I enjoy their company and I love to hear stories about college because that is where I will be in a few years’ time.

In the spirit of holidays, we have a vacation or two in a year. During these vacations, plans begin early and when the time comes, it is enjoyable and relaxing. Vacations for us as children tend to be more enjoyable because we have an environment away from home and with minimal parental supervision and we tend to explore and talk among ourselves. Team building during vacations strengthens the bond in families.

Family is a blessing to individuals because that is where they belong and it is what defines them. A good family is built through moral values and team effort. Having family events and parties or vacations re important is strengthening the relationships within a family. A happy individual is definitely from a happy family.

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20 Engaging Essays About Family You Can Easily Write

Discover 20 essays about family for your next essay writing project.

From defining the family to exploring problems within modern families, this personal topic lends itself well to essay writing. If you are preparing a personal essay or were assigned to write one on this topic, good news. You can easily draw on a wealth of sub-topics and themes about the family, as you develop your piece. But if you have trouble getting started, here are 20 ideas for essays about the family.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

1. Why Siblings Should Be Your Best Friends

2. what is a family, 3. how family culture is established by a nuclear family, 4. the importance of family in child rearing, 5. how my family made me a better person, 6. why i love my family, 7. why my mom/dad/grandparent is my role model, 8. the effect of dysfunctional families on teenagers, 9. a sociological approach to defining family, 10. the influence of extended family on a child’s life experiences, 11. how popular culture portrays the happy family, 12. how my dysfunctional family defined my character, 13. how family has changed in american society, 14. is family changing or facing a state of decline, 15. the role family holds in everyday life, 16. comparing the family dynamics between two different cultures, 17. how my multi-cultural family gave me the best of both worlds, 18. unique challenges faced in single-parent families, 19. my most vivid family memory, 20. the challenges of being the youngest or oldest in the family.

A loving family is a beautiful gift, and with it often comes the gift of siblings. You could develop an essay on why siblings should be an individual’s best friends. When the relationship between them is loving and supportive, siblings are always around and able to help individuals through challenging life experiences.

This stands in stark contrast to the friends made in high school and even college. While some people will walk away with lifelong friends, life’s circumstances often pull friends apart. Family is forever, and people should work to develop those relationships. Looking for more? See these essays about brothers .

The dictionary defines a family as “a social group made up of parents and their children” or “a group of people who come from the same ancestor.” Yet this is a very narrow definition of family. Could you define it in another way? Are there people who you consider “family” who are not actually related to you by blood?

This essay idea gives you quite a bit of room for interpretation. Decide how you will define family, and then use the essay to support your choice. Then, discuss different ways family can look in society.

If you need some inspiration, check out our guide to the best parenting books .

The nuclear family is the most basic family structure: parents and their children. This family system is critical to developing a family culture and passing it down to the next generation. Do you find that you highly value having a family night on Fridays? It is likely because that is something your parents showed you in your own family when you were growing up.

Your essay can define family culture and show how family life helps establish that and pass it down to children. This family essay can discuss the nuclear family’s role in teaching children about cultural and religious values. Finally, the essay can establish why family culture and passing it along to children is so important.

For more help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

Essays About Family: The importance of family in child-rearing

Can children grow into reasonable and ethical grown-ups without a family? While it is possible, the reality is the most stable adults typically come from loving and supportive families. One of the primary roles of the family is the development and rearing of children.

The family is the child’s primary social group . Through the family, they develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. In some ways, the family is the first school that teaches them the most important principles of life for young children. In your essay, establish the fact that family is the foundation for strong adults because of its role in child-rearing and child development.

If you need to write a personal essay, you can look at your family’s role in making you who you are. Your family played a vital role in your upbringing, from teaching you your core values to supporting you as you developed into the adult you are today.

Remember that you don’t have to have a happy family to write this essay. Even if your family circumstances were challenging, you can find ways that your family of origin helped you improve yourself and become a better person.

This is another personal essay topic. On the surface, it seems easy, but if you are going to write a quality essay, you need to dig deep. What makes your family unique and special, and why do you love that?

Keep in mind that all families have quirks and even problems. Yet you love your family in spite of these and sometimes even because of them. Don’t be afraid to include these in your essay.

Think of your family and the leaders in it. Is there one that stands out for a particular reason? Have you modeled some of your own life on how that person lived theirs?

Whether you choose a parent or a grandparent or even an extended family member, look more closely at what makes that individual so important in your life. Then, in your essay, you can outline how you are trying to emulate what they did in their life to make you more successful in yours.

When families go through difficult times, the effect is not limited to those struggling the most. The whole family will suffer when parents are fighting or financial problems arise. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to dysfunctional family dynamics. They may act out, experience depression, or feel pressured to lead the family when their parents are facing conflict.

This essay explores the effect of family problems on teenagers and their emotional or social development. Consider providing solutions that can help teens manage their challenging emotions even while dealing with the unique challenge of a dysfunctional family.

The definition of family is constantly evolving, but what does sociology say about it? This question could lead to an exciting and engaging essay as you dig into sociology to find your family definition. Based on most sociological definitions , a family is a group of related individuals connected by blood, marriage, or adoption. It may also mean people who live under the same roof.

Based on this definition, the word family has a distinct boundary. While close friends might be something you consider as family personally, sociologists will not define family in this way. Looking at the way sociologists, specifically, define family will give you quite a bit for your essay.

Essays About Family: The influence of extended family on a child’s life experiences

Much has been written about the nuclear family and its impact on the child’s development, but the whole family can have a role to play. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other extended family members can contribute to the life experiences of a child, and you can turn this into an interesting essay topic.

Use your essay to explore what happens when the extended family lives close by and what happens when they do not. You can look at how much of an influence the extended family has on a child’s development, and what increases or decreases that influence.

What does the happy nuclear family look like in television shows and movies? Is it usually a mother, father, and child, or are same-sex couples shown regularly? Do single-parent households get equal representation, or not?

This topic could be a fascinating one to explore in your essay. Once you establish the facts, you can discuss if this portrayal reflects real life or not. Finally, you can talk about whether or not the cultural portrayal of the family represents the type of family values the average family embraces.

Not everyone grows up in a happy, stable family, but sometimes bad times can improve someone’s character and give them the drive to be better. If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, you could show how that helped define your character.

In this essay, work to make a positive spin on your difficult situation. This topic can work well for a personal essay for college entrance or employment purposes.

Is the definition of family changing in American society? Some would argue that it is. While the mother, father, and children style family is still common, many other families exist now.

For example, we have an increasing number of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren . Single-parent families are also on the rise, as are families with a single parent who was never married to the other parent to begin with. Families with same-sex parents are becoming more common as well. Take your essay and define this change and how the nuclear family may look in the future.

Another take on the idea of the changing family dynamic s discussing whether or not families are changing, or if the state of the family is in decline. This essay topic will require some research, but you can explore whether families are breaking down or if they are simply changing.

If you decide that the family is breaking down, you can explore the reasons for this breakdown and its impact on society.

From bringing in the income that the family members need to live on to giving direction for the growth and development of children, the family holds a significant role in everyday life. You can explore this role in your essay and talk about the different components of life that the family controls.

For people who grow up in a stable environment, the family provides emotional support and improves overall well-being. It is also the source for moral development, cultural development, and work ethic development. It also provides for the physical safety and needs of the children. All of these lend themselves well to an essay topic.

While the main definition of family is nearly universal, the nuances of family dynamics change significantly from one culture to the next. For example, some cultures are highly patriarchal in nature, while others focus on maternal leadership. Pick a very different culture from your own, and then compare and contrast them in your essay.

For this essay, make sure that you look at differences as well as similarities. Do not disparage either culture, either, but rather focus on their differences positively. This essay works well if you have contact or knowledge of both cultures so that it can be a great choice for someone growing up in a multi-cultural family.

This essay topic is a twist on the previous one. In addition to comparing and contrasting the family dynamic of the two cultures, you can look at how that directly impacted you. What did you gain from each of the two cultures that merged in your home?

The personal nature of this essay topic makes it easier to write, but be willing to do some research, too. Learn why your parents acted the way they did and how it tied into their cultures. Consider ways the cultures clashed and how your family worked through those problems.

Single-parent families can be loving and supportive families, and children can grow well in them, but they face some challenges. Your essay can expound on these challenges and help you show how they are overcome within the family dynamic.

As you develop this family essay, remember to shed some positive light on the tenacity of single parents. There are challenges in this family structure, but most single parents meet them head-on and grow happy, well-balanced children. Remember to discuss both single fathers and single mothers, as single-parent families have both.

You can use this personal essay topic when writing essays about the family. Think back to your childhood and your most vivid family memory. Maybe it is something positive, like an epic family vacation, or maybe it is something negative, like the time when your parents split up.

Write about how that family memory changed you as a child and even in your adult years. Discuss what you remember about it and what you know about it now, after the fact. Show how that memory helped develop you into who you are today.

Are you the family’s baby or the oldest child? What challenges did you face in this role? Discuss those as you develop your family essay topic.

Even if you were the middle child, you can use your observations of your family to discuss the challenges of the bookend children. Do you feel that the baby or the eldest has the easier path? Develop this into a well-thought-out essay.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

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About my family.

Look at the email and do the exercises to practise and improve your writing skills.

Instructions

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From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: My family

Let me tell you about my family. I live with my mum, my dad and my big sister. We live in California. My mum’s name is Carmen. She’s Mexican and she speaks English and Spanish. She’s a Spanish teacher. She’s short and slim, she’s got long, brown hair and brown eyes. My dad’s name is David. He’s American. He’s tall and a little fat! He’s got short brown hair and blue eyes. He works in a bank. My sister Shania is 14 and she loves listening to music. She listens to music all the time! She’s got long brown hair and green eyes, like me. I’ve got long hair too. We’ve got a pet dog, Brandy. He’s black and white and very friendly.

Write soon and tell me about your family.

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How To: Write Your Personal Essay

Posted by Carolyn Pippen on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 in Application Process , General Information , The College Essay .

While we still have a few more days until the official beginning of fall, around here it feels a lot like the season has already begun. Classes are back in session , the leaves are falling off the trees, and most of our counselors have departed for the two-month marathon of flights, high school visits, and college fairs that we call travel season.

In addition, thousands of high school seniors across the country have begun the process of filling out college applications. Regardless of whether or not one of your applications will be submitted to Vanderbilt, we would like to offer you a few nuggets of the expertise we have acquired working with students and evaluating applications over years.

Thus we give you: The “How To” Series. Over the next several weeks, we will be posting lists of tips concerning various pieces of the application that we hope will make this process a little less overwhelming for all of you. Today’s tips focus on the personal essay.

Be thoughtful, but not fretful. As a senior, most of the accomplishments that will make up the bulk of your application – academic performance, test scores, and extracurricular involvement – are said and done. In a sense, the only part of the application over which you have complete control right now is the essay. Don’t let this scare you! While the essay is a valuable tool that we use to understand you better, it is rarely if ever a “make or break” component of your application.
Keep the “personal” in personal essay. The Common Application presents six different prompts for you to choose from when writing your essay. To be honest, we don’t really care that much what you write about, as long as you’re writing about you. In other words, don’t spend the entire essay detailing the life of your favorite and most accomplished family member, but rather focus on how that person has affected you and your life decisions. Don’t give us a detailed narrative of your favorite community service trip, but instead tell us what you learned from that trip and how it has changed your outlook on the world. This is one time when it’s okay to be self-centered – more than anything, we want to know about you!
Don’t try to guess what the reader wants to hear. If you ask a hundred different admissions counselors what their favorite kind of essay is, you will likely get a hundred different answers. Trying to figure out what topic will get us most excited is like trying to guess which outfits the judges of Project Runway are going to like the most – no matter how many times we watch, Heidi always manages to confound. Instead of trying to game the system, focus on the things that get you excited. If nothing else, I promise that passion will show through.
Feel free to be funny or creative – but don’t overreach. If your friends tell you that you’re the funniest person in the class, use that skill to your advantage. If your creativity is what sets you apart from your peers, let that innovation guide the structure and content of the essay. On the other hand, if every joke you make at the cafeteria table falls flatter than a pancake in a Panini press, don’t try to fake it. Figure out what your personal strengths are, and stick with them.
Tell us something we don’t already know. When writing your essay, be sure to keep in mind all of the other pieces of your application we already have in front of us while we’re reading it. Do not use this space to summarize your extracurricular involvement or your academic achievements if we’ve already seen these things in your resume and transcript. We know that there is more to you than just test scores and leadership roles, so tell us more!
Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we’re probably going to notice.
Edit, proof, polish, and breathe. Beyond gaining insight into your personal psyche, the purpose of the essay is also to showcase your written communication skills. Treat this essay just like any class assignment – write it early, proof and revise, keep an eagle eye out for spelling and grammatical errors, and make sure it is presented in a clean and polished way. That being said, do not call our office in a panic if you discovered a missing article or a misused “its” after you hit submit. Because of our holistic selection process , no student will be denied based on one element of his or her application; this includes typos.

Tags: academic credentials , breathe , college applications , Common Application , essay writing , extracurricular activities , Heidi Klum , how to apply , personal essay , Project Runway

November 11th, 2013

Hi Carolyn, students get stressed regarding writing college admission essays. Your tips are going to help them a lot.

November 30th, 2013

thanks it helped me write a good essay

July 22nd, 2015

Thanks for the informative tips on short essay writing .

January 20th, 2016

Hello, I am applying to a liberal arts college and am sort of stuck up on the essay. Should I be completely honest and mention my shortcomings. I am pretty much introverted and not a good conversationalist. Should I or should I not mention these

January 27th, 2016

Your essay should help to give better, deeper insight into you as a person. As the post mentions, your essay should supplement the other parts of your application to help us understand you better. That said, you don’t have to include anything about yourself that you don’t feel comfortable sharing.

April 25th, 2016

Great tips!

September 3rd, 2016

Is there a specific place to write the essay and is there a prompt, the common app doesn’t have a location to attach a personal essay.

September 6th, 2016

Thank you for your question. The Common Application gives students the option to choose one of five essay prompts. You can read the essay promts on the Common Application site at http://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening/application-updates/common-application-announces-2016-2017-essay-prompts

Again, thanks for your question and your interest in Vanderbilt.

September 17th, 2016

so Vanderbilt does not have additional or supplemental essays?

September 20th, 2016

Thank you for your question – you are correct, there are no supplements for Vanderbilt.

September 21st, 2016

Hi! I’m just adding the final touches to my application and I’m ready to send it off. I’m very excited! Just a clarification: when you say there aren’t any supplements for Vanderbilt, does it mean that the activity essay/expansion isn’t required or is that not classified as a supplement? Thank you!

September 22nd, 2016

Hi Hannah, thanks for your question (and congratulations on finishing up your application). This can vary depending on the specific application method you are using. I think you may be asking about the Common App, and in that case the short answer about activities is required to submit your application. We don’t consider that a supplement because it is a part of the Common Application. If you have more questions, please feel free to follow up.

Thank you for the clarification!

September 23rd, 2016

I made a mistake..3 actually! I submitted my application today and after looking back through my pieces of writing, I realized that I accidentally wrote a word twice in my personal statement and forgot a period, and I also failed to include a small word in my topic sentence for my activities essay on the common app. Apparently, I was far too excited to hit submit. I would hate to have my admission chances suffer because of this. I’ve emailed my admissions counselor, but in the meantime, is there anything that can be done? Thank you!

September 30th, 2016

Hi Hannah, thank you for checking in on this. Emailing your admissions counselor is absolutely the right course of action, and I am sure they will handle it from here. Don’t worry about it! And thanks for your enthusiasm about Vanderbilt!

April 13th, 2017

Thanks for tips, right now i’m in the middle of essay writing, so your article is just what i needed. Start to get more and more worried each day, seems like now i know what to do

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Understanding family relationships

Building closer family bonds, getting along with adult relatives, improving relationships with your adult children, reclaiming your adult siblings, improving relationships with your extended family, tips to improve family relationships.

Looking to improve your relationships with your family members? Learn how emotional intelligence (EQ) is your most effective tool for overcoming rifts and strengthening bonds.

There’s nothing like family. The people we’re related to by blood and marriage are expected to be our closest allies, our greatest sources of love and support. Too often, however, our interactions with family are filled with misunderstanding and resentment, bickering and badgering. Those we should know and be known by best, end up feeling like adversaries or strangers.

Family is where our first and strongest emotional memories are made, and that’s where they keep appearing. And this is why emotional intelligence (EQ) succeeds where other efforts at family harmony fail. Active awareness and empathy—the ability to be aware, accepting, and permanently attuned to ourselves and others—tells us how to respond to one another’s needs.

EQ is incredibly powerful in the family because it puts you in control of your relationships with parents and children, siblings, in-laws and extended family. When you know how you feel, you can’t be manipulated by other’s emotions; nor can you blame family conflict on everyone else. Most of the techniques for improving family relationships are therefore centered on communicating your feelings to those you care about, as close relationships are centered around feeling.

Without this emotional intimacy, family contact becomes a burden, because no one is comfortable spending that much time with a stranger. If you want your family members to know and accept each other lovingly, you have to begin with your own emotional honesty and openness. When you do, the suggestions offered below are transformed from familiar reasonable advice, to highly effective methods for bringing your family ever closer.

10 tips for improving family relationships

Take care of your health if you hope to take care of anyone else . The more demanding of your time your family is, the more you need to fit in exercise. Perhaps you and your family can seek out ways to exercise together.
Listen if you expect to be heard . Lack of communication is the loudest complaint in most families. The answer to “Why won’t they listen to me?” may be simply “You’re not listening to them.”
Teach emotional choice . Manage your moods by letting all feelings be OK, but not all behaviors. Model behavior that respects and encourages the feelings and rights of others yet make it clear that we have a choice about what to do with what we feel.
Teach generosity by receiving as well as giving . Giving and receiving are parts of the same loving continuum. If we don’t give, we find it hard to receive, and if we can’t receive, we don’t really have much to give. This is why selflessness carried to extremes is of little benefits to others.
Take responsibility for what you communicate silently . The very young and old are especially sensitive to nonverbal cues. More than our words, tone of voice, posture (body language), and facial expressions convey our feelings. We have to listen to our tone of voice and look at ourselves in pictures and in the mirror to assess our emotional congruency. Loving words coming through clenched teeth don’t feel loving—they feel confusing.
Don’t try to solve problems for your loved ones . Caring for your family doesn’t mean taking charge of their problems, giving unsolicited advice, or protecting them from their own emotions. Let them know their own strengths and allow them to ask you for what they need.
Make a lasting impression through actions . Your values will be communicated by your actions, no matter what you say. Be an example, not a nag.
Acknowledge your errors to everyone , including younger family members. Saying you’re sorry when you hurt someone you love, models humility and emotional integrity. You can demonstrate that no one is perfect, but everyone can learn at any age. Apologizing proves you can forgive yourself and makes it easier to forgive others.
Discover what each person’s unique needs are . You can’t assume that your grandmother needs the same signs of love as your three-year-old or that either one will have the same needs next year. When in doubt, ask!
Be generous in expressing love . Everyone in a family (especially young children) needs the emotional reassurance of loving words, gestures, and looks. Those who demand the least emotional attention may need it most.

Look to yourself first . A family is a system made up of interdependent individuals, but that doesn’t mean you can blame your family of origin for the way you are today, any more than you can hold your mate and children responsible for your personal happiness. Your best hope for fixing any family problem is to attend your own emotional health. When you act on the belief that you have a right and obligation to assert your own emotional needs, your family will notice that your emotional independence benefits not only you, but the whole family, and they may quickly follow your lead.

Remember that consistency builds trust. Studies have shown that lack of consistency destroys trust. Off-and-on emotional awareness will cause those who love and depend on you, especially children, to get confused and frightened. That’s why it’s so important to keep your awareness active with family.

Recognize that being close doesn’t mean being clones. Sometimes family ties blind us to the uniqueness of those we love. Pride in the family continuum can make it easy to forget that. You can’t be expected to have the same talents as your siblings, even though you may look a lot alike; that you won’t necessarily choose to follow in parent’s footsteps; or that you and your spouse should spend all your leisure time joined at the hip just because you’re married.

Remember that knowing people all your life doesn’t mean understanding them. “I knew you when…” doesn’t mean I know you now, no matter how much I’ve always loved you. We all change, and yet each of us seems to only see change in ourselves. How infuriating is it to be introduced as someone’s kid brother when you’re fifty-five, or to be perpetually treated as the airhead you were at fourteen despite the fact that you’re now CEO of your own company. Now that you’ve acquired empathy , you can gently steer your family away from stagnant patterns of interaction by modeling the attention you’d like to receive. When you’re with your family, don’t automatically seek the conversational refuge of talking over old times. Ask what’s new and show that you really care by eliciting details and then listening with your body and mind.

Watch out for destructive emotional memories. Catching your thirty-year-old self responding to a parent in the voice of the five-year-old you can make you feel weak and frustrated. With EQ you don’t need to keep getting snared by emotional memories. Whenever you feel out of control with family—whether it’s kicking yourself for acting like a kid with your parents or agonizing over where the anger you’re dumping on your innocent spouse and children is coming from—take a moment to reflect on the memories that are imposing on your behavior today.

Cherish every stage of life in each family member. No matter how well we understand that it can’t happen, we desperately want Mom and Dad to stay the way they are, and for the kids to stay home forever. The best to accept that fact emotionally, is to embrace change. Accept the natural fear that your parents’ aging evokes but use your emotional awareness and empathy to figure out how you can cherish this moment for its unique qualities. What can you and your parents share now that wasn’t possible in the past? Can you keep having fun and make sure everyone still feels useful and worthy in the family support system, even though roles and responsibilities must be altered?

If you’re not sure what will work, ask. Fully accepting your fear of change can make it easier to broach subjects that you may have considered awkward in the past. Maybe your parents are just waiting for your cue. Feel them out. In a flexible, healthy family dynamic, change is just one of the many opportunities you have to enrich one another.

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Two elements threaten harmonious relations with parents and adult siblings, in-laws and adult children: lack of time and an abundance of emotional memories. The two add up to the fear that we’ll be overwhelmed by each other’s needs, giving up ourselves if we give anything to these adult relatives. We do need to invest time in figuring out what our parents want most from us, sustaining close friendships with brothers and sisters, and gathering together without fulfilling every bad joke ever written about contentious, selfish families.

But emotional intelligence gives us so much energy and creativity that the demands of these relationships don’t need to be heavy. We recognize change as it occurs in individuals by recognizing emotional memories when they’re triggered. Keep your EQ strong, and your adult family encounters are no longer dominated by cleaning up after mistakes and managing crises that have already resulted in disaster.

Many parents are dismayed to find that they can’t just sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor once they’ve successfully guided their children into adulthood. No relationship stands still. The key to a successful ongoing relationship with your grown children is your ability to deal with the change and growth that comes before role reversal. You have to keep the lines of emotional communication open; your children may be wrapped up in career, love, and friendships at this stage in their lives. Let them know how you feel and what you need from them.

If you’ve only recently raised your EQ, of course, you may have some amending to do, some changes to make in your style of interaction with your children. Do they avoid you because you force advice or your own choices on them? Do you bring more disappointment and judgement to the relationship than they can tolerate? Have you listened empathically to how your children feel about their choices? Or have you tried to find out what their unique needs are? Some adult children keep their distance because they feel injured by past experiences with you; in that case the only way to improve the relationships is to stick to these tips—listen to their hurt and admit you were wrong. Here are a few ways to bridge the gap:

Find out why it’s so hard to accept your children’s choices when they’re different from your own. Use the hot buttons exploration described above, but ask yourself why you feel so strongly about this issue, why you need to be in control, and why you can’t accept their right to make independent choices?
Tap into the power of apology. It’s never too late to say, “I’m sorry, I wish I could have been a better parent,” “I wish I had done things differently,” or “You deserved better than I gave.” Heartfelt words of sadness and regret become particularly powerful in a letter—as long as the letter is given as a gift without expectations about what it will bring in return. It may bring nothing except the knowledge that you have done your best to right past wrongs. You may also wish to ask if there is any way that you can make amends.
Explore what you expect from each other. If your estranged child is willing, each of you should make a list of no more than seven items on the subject of what you want and need from each other and what you think the other wants and needs from you. Now compare lists and see how close each of you comes to meeting the other’s needs.

If your child is unwilling or you’re unwilling to ask, you can still do this exercise on your own. Fill out the list for yourself, then move to another chair or position and fill out a list as you think your adult child would. Now compare. Is what your adult child needs different from what you’re offering? Have you failed to recognize how the child has changed?

In high-EQ families, brothers and sisters divide up responsibilities for aging parents and look forward to occasions to get all the generations together, because they all now their limits and their talents and how to convey them. Unfortunately, this is not an accurate portrait of many adult sibling relationships because too often history intervenes. Maybe your parents didn’t provide the type of love and support your brother needed as well as they did for you. Maybe childhood memories trigger too much resentment, jealousy, and rivalry. Maybe it just hurt too much when the sister who knew you so well didn’t care enough to notice how you’ve changed over the years.

Whatever the problem, you can use any of the ideas in this article to renew your relationship. If you have the time, you can also try reconnecting by going away together where you will both be comfortable and undisturbed. Try an unstructured setting and use your time together to send a lot of “I feel” messages. Clarify that in expressing yourself you’re not asking your sibling to change. When your sibling responds, make sure you listen with your body, not with retorts prepared in your head.

If your sibling is hard to reach, and an outing won’t work, can you reconnect by soliciting help in a way that acknowledges his or her unique talents? Think about ways you can make your sibling feel uniquely needed.

How are your relationships with your extended family—those you’re related to by marriage or through looser blood ties? Strained because you’re trying to form family bonds without the emotional history to make them stick? Or smooth because they don’t come with the emotional baggage that your immediate family of origin drags around? Either is possible in any individual relationship. How difficult one of these relationships is may depend on how important it is to you and how long you’ve been at it. Getting along with a brand-new mother-in-law, therefore mother, has left unpleasant emotional memories. On the other hand, it’s probably a snap to be cordial to the cousin you see only at holiday gatherings.

How good and how deep your relationships are with extended family will depend largely on what you want them to be. We feel guilty if we resent our own parents, but there’s nothing that says we have to love our in-laws, so many people don’t feel obligated to make a huge effort. Simply extend the same empathy to your extended family as you would to anyone else you encounter, and that means accepting the broad range of differences that’s bound to exists so you can find the common points of connection.

If you’re also willing to listen with empathy no matter who is speaking, admit error, and watch the nonverbal cues you send, you stand a pretty good chance of becoming everyone’s favorite niece, cherished uncle, or model in-law. Assuming you haven’t yet achieved that state, here are a few tips to make extended-family relationships rewarding.

Remember that you don’t have to like everyone equally.

Sometimes, even when you make your most open-hearted efforts, you end up disliking a relative or an in-law. Examine how much your own baggage keeps you from appreciating this person. Then accept your feelings and interact with the person only to the extent that you remain comfortable. You may find that removing the stress of seeing him or her under that pressure opens your heart a crack wider.

If you can only ask loaded questions, don’t say anything at all.

Research has shown that the emotional message is 90 percent of what people get from any communication , and that’s why it’s important to be emotionally aware of what your motives are, and to take responsibility for what you convey through gestures and expressions, as well as words. Too often we don’t say what we mean because we’re afraid to take responsibility for the feelings that motivate us. So, we manipulate people by making offers that beg to be refused or by saying we don’t mind when we do and then resenting the perceived offender. If you can’t be emotionally honest with your extended family, go somewhere else.

Adapted from Raising Your Emotional Intelligence: A Hands-on Program for Harnessing the Power of Your Instincts and Emotions by Jeanne Segal, Ph.D.

More in Emotional Intelligence

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Tools for managing emotions and bringing your life into balance

To be an effective leader, emotional intelligence is an essential skill

Parenting strategies to help you build empathy and emotional awareness

Learn why emotional intelligence matters in romantic relationships

How EQ can make you a better employee, co-worker, or boss

VIDEO: Why Emotions Matter

Discover the powerful role of emotions

Boost your EQ to help find happiness and success

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Role of a Family Member, Essay Example

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Roles and Responsibilities of a Family Member

The family unit is an important institution in American culture and each family member has a specific role and unique responsibilities. The various titles of members of most families include father, mother, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and cousin. For the purposes of this paper, the role of the uncle, in an American family, is highlighted as well as an overview of what his role is, what his responsibilities are, and how he fits into the family unit.

What is an Uncle?

An uncle is a male family member who is the brother of a child’s mother or father. This is a first generation uncle. Subsequent generations go up the family tree. For example, a second generation uncle (or a great uncle) is the brother of one of the child’s grandparents and so on.

Roles and Responsibilities of an Uncle

An uncle’s role is unique in many ways. One way an uncle’s role may be unique is the fact that an uncle can be of any age and can even be the same age, or near the same age, as his niece or nephew. In this capacity, the uncle’s role may be that of a playmate to his niece or nephew, as children. Also in this context, the uncle will literally grow up with his niece or nephew and they can become close friends and share similar experiences.

Other the other hand, most uncles are considerably older than their nieces or nephews, being a sibling of one of their parents. In this role, an uncle may be a confidant and someone a niece or nephew can trust and talk to when needed, if they are uncomfortable talking to their parents about something. Many times, an uncle is the person who is most influential in helping his niece or nephew through a crisis in his or her life.

Also, an uncle often serves as an extra source of provision. Many uncles contribute significantly to their nieces and nephews support which includes money for clothes, funds for school and entertainment, and gifts for birthdays and other holidays. Another important part of an uncle’s role in a child’s life is that of a role model. A child’s uncle can help shape his or her life in many ways by being a present part of the child’s life. An uncle can share in milestone moments in his niece’s and nephew’s lives such as babysitting them when they’re little, helping them with their school work, attending their sporting events, being there for birthday parties, going to their graduation ceremonies, teaching them how to drive, or attending their weddings when they are grown. The uncle is also there for his nieces and nephews, even in sad times and is often a source of comfort. Additionally, there are times when an uncle is a father-figure in a child’s life in the absence of a father. Whatever the role an uncle plays in the life of his nieces and nephews, he is often seen as a necessary piece to the family puzzle. He is a significant part of the family unit that can encourage and enrich or discourage and tear down, depending on what type of person he is. However, he is definitely in a role that gives him an opportunity to live up to his responsibility honorably and form a lasting bond with his nieces and nephews.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Want to write the perfect college application essay? We can help. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will help you craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay to proudly submit to colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
Tell you what to say and how to say it
Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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What I’ve Learned From My Students’ College Essays

The genre is often maligned for being formulaic and melodramatic, but it’s more important than you think.

An illustration of a high school student with blue hair, dreaming of what to write in their college essay.

By Nell Freudenberger

Most high school seniors approach the college essay with dread. Either their upbringing hasn’t supplied them with several hundred words of adversity, or worse, they’re afraid that packaging the genuine trauma they’ve experienced is the only way to secure their future. The college counselor at the Brooklyn high school where I’m a writing tutor advises against trauma porn. “Keep it brief , ” she says, “and show how you rose above it.”

I started volunteering in New York City schools in my 20s, before I had kids of my own. At the time, I liked hanging out with teenagers, whom I sometimes had more interesting conversations with than I did my peers. Often I worked with students who spoke English as a second language or who used slang in their writing, and at first I was hung up on grammar. Should I correct any deviation from “standard English” to appeal to some Wizard of Oz behind the curtains of a college admissions office? Or should I encourage students to write the way they speak, in pursuit of an authentic voice, that most elusive of literary qualities?

In fact, I was missing the point. One of many lessons the students have taught me is to let the story dictate the voice of the essay. A few years ago, I worked with a boy who claimed to have nothing to write about. His life had been ordinary, he said; nothing had happened to him. I asked if he wanted to try writing about a family member, his favorite school subject, a summer job? He glanced at his phone, his posture and expression suggesting that he’d rather be anywhere but in front of a computer with me. “Hobbies?” I suggested, without much hope. He gave me a shy glance. “I like to box,” he said.

I’ve had this experience with reluctant writers again and again — when a topic clicks with a student, an essay can unfurl spontaneously. Of course the primary goal of a college essay is to help its author get an education that leads to a career. Changes in testing policies and financial aid have made applying to college more confusing than ever, but essays have remained basically the same. I would argue that they’re much more than an onerous task or rote exercise, and that unlike standardized tests they are infinitely variable and sometimes beautiful. College essays also provide an opportunity to learn precision, clarity and the process of working toward the truth through multiple revisions.

When a topic clicks with a student, an essay can unfurl spontaneously.

Even if writing doesn’t end up being fundamental to their future professions, students learn to choose language carefully and to be suspicious of the first words that come to mind. Especially now, as college students shoulder so much of the country’s ethical responsibility for war with their protest movement, essay writing teaches prospective students an increasingly urgent lesson: that choosing their own words over ready-made phrases is the only reliable way to ensure they’re thinking for themselves.

Teenagers are ideal writers for several reasons. They’re usually free of preconceptions about writing, and they tend not to use self-consciously ‘‘literary’’ language. They’re allergic to hypocrisy and are generally unfiltered: They overshare, ask personal questions and call you out for microaggressions as well as less egregious (but still mortifying) verbal errors, such as referring to weed as ‘‘pot.’’ Most important, they have yet to put down their best stories in a finished form.

I can imagine an essay taking a risk and distinguishing itself formally — a poem or a one-act play — but most kids use a more straightforward model: a hook followed by a narrative built around “small moments” that lead to a concluding lesson or aspiration for the future. I never get tired of working with students on these essays because each one is different, and the short, rigid form sometimes makes an emotional story even more powerful. Before I read Javier Zamora’s wrenching “Solito,” I worked with a student who had been transported by a coyote into the U.S. and was reunited with his mother in the parking lot of a big-box store. I don’t remember whether this essay focused on specific skills or coping mechanisms that he gained from his ordeal. I remember only the bliss of the parent-and-child reunion in that uninspiring setting. If I were making a case to an admissions officer, I would suggest that simply being able to convey that experience demonstrates the kind of resilience that any college should admire.

The essays that have stayed with me over the years don’t follow a pattern. There are some narratives on very predictable topics — living up to the expectations of immigrant parents, or suffering from depression in 2020 — that are moving because of the attention with which the student describes the experience. One girl determined to become an engineer while watching her father build furniture from scraps after work; a boy, grieving for his mother during lockdown, began taking pictures of the sky.

If, as Lorrie Moore said, “a short story is a love affair; a novel is a marriage,” what is a college essay? Every once in a while I sit down next to a student and start reading, and I have to suppress my excitement, because there on the Google Doc in front of me is a real writer’s voice. One of the first students I ever worked with wrote about falling in love with another girl in dance class, the absolute magic of watching her move and the terror in the conflict between her feelings and the instruction of her religious middle school. She made me think that college essays are less like love than limerence: one-sided, obsessive, idiosyncratic but profound, the first draft of the most personal story their writers will ever tell.

Nell Freudenberger’s novel “The Limits” was published by Knopf last month. She volunteers through the PEN America Writers in the Schools program.

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K.C. Chiefs Heiress Gracie Hunt Says She Respects Harrison Butker, His Faith

Harrison Butker Jersey Sales Spike After Controversial Commencement Speech

Gracie hunt, k.c. chiefs heiress i respect harrison butker & his faith amid controversial speech.

If you're waiting on Harrison Butker to get cut, don't hold your breath ... especially not after a member of the Hunt family just went to bat for the kicker in a big way.

Gracie Hunt , daughter of owner Clark Hunt , and granddaughter of team founder Lamar Hunt , appeared on Fox & Friends Friday morning from outside a church in Dallas, where she was asked for a "reaction from the Hunt family regarding the kicker, Harrison Butker."

"I can only speak from my own experience, which is I had the most incredible mom who had the ability to stay home and be with us as kids growing up," Gracie said, referencing her stay-at-home mom.

"And I understand that there are many women out there who can’t make that decision but for me in my life, I know it was really formative in my shaping me and my siblings to be who we are."

FOX's Steve Doocy followed up ... "So you understand what he was talking about?"

Gracie responded ... "For sure, and I really respect Harrison and his Christian faith and what he’s accomplished on and off the field."

Of course, many don't share Hunt's perspective. He's been accused of playing up sexist and outdated gender roles, being anti-LGBTQ+, and politically divisive, among other criticisms.

Although the Chiefs' heiress doesn't necessarily speak for the organization, Gracie's comments are the first from a Hunt family member since Butker delivered the controversial commencement address at Benedictine College in Kansas on Saturday (May 11).

It's largely been crickets from everyone else ... including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce (the kicker briefly referenced TK and Taylor Swift in his speech ), who have been mum on the topic.

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Harrison Butker Gets Dueling Petitions Over Having Him Kicked Off Chiefs

Old news is old news be first.

Ask Amy: Dad hurt by daughter publicly reconnecting with her biological family

He adopted his daughter and he’s hurt that she’s publicly reconnecting with her biological family.

Dear Amy: In 1964, I met my wife “Laura” and her infant baby “Beth.” (Laura had gotten pregnant with a married man.) Laura and I were married, and I adopted Beth when she was 1-year-old.

We raised Beth as my biological daughter and never heard a word from her actual biological father. We told Beth about her adoption when she was 8. Her mother invited Beth to ask questions, but Beth didn’t want to talk about it. We had a very loving family and never had one problem. I always considered Beth to be my own child.

My wife recently died from breast cancer. Beth did a DNA test after my wife died and discovered that she has many biological relatives. Her biological father died a few years ago. Beth has contacted her newfound biological family. Beth went on social networks announcing her newfound relatives. It has hurt me.

I can understand her inquiry, but I am upset with her use of social media to announce the results. Many of my friends never knew that Beth was my adoptive daughter. Am I wrong to be upset with her use of social media? I have let her know my feelings have been hurt, and I have not heard from her for several months.

— Jake from Pa.

Jake: You are “Beth’s” father. You should continue to act like her loving father. I’m going to assume that Beth pursued DNA testing after her mother’s death in part to reveal any genetic health issues she might have inherited. She then quite naturally sought out other biological relatives in order to answer some of those questions she had never felt able to ask you.

I infer that — aside from that one disclosure — you were not open with her about her adoption during her childhood. You should be open with her now. You are not necessarily “wrong” to be upset about your daughter’s use of social media to announce her newfound biological family members, but this sort of public sharing of what might seem like personal or private business has become almost the norm for people in her generation.

At this point you should work much harder to accept it. Holding adoption as a private or secret matter was more common when you adopted your daughter, but people who joined families through adoption have the right to be open about their own history. I hope you will continue to reach out. Express interest about her biological relatives; if she is happy, then you should work very hard to be happy for her.

Dear Amy: I am a 77-year-old, retired professional woman who has been widowed for three years following a very happy and very long marriage. I am now ready to begin dating, but am unsure how to proceed.

When I was young, the lady never did the asking. I’m not sure if that is still the protocol or whether it is acceptable and expected for me to call a gentleman I know to be single and ask for a date. And if I do that, do I pay for the date, or is splitting the check the norm?

— Hoping for Companionship

Hoping: Yes — it is completely acceptable and expected for a woman to take the initiative and ask a man out. Good first dates should be simple, inexpensive, and designed for the ease of conversation. A walk in the park followed by coffee, a visit to your local museum, botanical garden or historical society followed by coffee or a drink — chose something nearby and easy.

The person initiating the date should offer to pick up the entire check, but splitting the check is the norm — although a man in your generation might want to pick up the check, even if you’ve invited him out. Which reminds me of a moment from a classic movie about adult dating, “Sleepless in Seattle,” that these days if a man offers to pick up the check, women will throw a parade for you.

Get out there! And good luck.

Dear Amy: “ Worried For Friends ” noted that friends were creating a basement unit without the proper permits, with an ultimate goal to upgrade the house to sell. Banks generally will not make a mortgage loan to a buyer if a house has unpermitted work. The seller could be forced to rip out and redo the work in order to sell. Better to do it right first time.

— Experienced

Experienced: Great point. Thank you.

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