Last Lesson!

Well this was the final week of this semester's Family Relations class.
I have really enjoyed every minute I have spent in this class learning about the family.
I have definitely learned so much and I will remember everything I have learned so that I can use it in my own family.
This last week we talked about the aging family, and how after the kids leave the house... you're still married!
It's important to keep a healthy relationship with your spouse throughout the children years, so when the kids are gone that love is still there and you are able to get along, and enjoy the time you will have alone with your spouse.
It's also important to remember that when your kids are off doing their thing, you let them do their thing and not try to intervene and continue to parent your now adult child.
We read a story about a family that ended up with the parents getting a divorce because the wife's mom was way too invested.
It was a few interesting days and while I'm not even close to reaching those days, I'm glad I know a little what to expect and have some insight.

I am so glad I was able to take this class and learn all of the things that I have!
I have a stronger testimony of families and the responsibility we have to raise families. 
I am excited to start my life and be able to implement the lessons I have learned; parenting, marriage skills, family roles, etc.  I think because of this class my testimony has grown and my knowledge about the importance of families has grown as well.

Lesson 12!

Over the past few days we have been talking about divorce, and remarriage. 
This topic hit home a little bit because I have a family member who has been divorced and remarried, and it's kind of hard on their family.
While sometimes it might be necessary to get a divorce, I definitely think it is something that needs a lot more thought than people usually give it.
The children in these two families that were brought together have been affected so much in a negative way because of it.  It makes me so sad to see how much harder their lives are because of this little detour they took.
I have seen how it is hard to have a joint family, but I definitely don't think it's impossible to make it work.  My dad also has somewhat of a joint family, and they are our favorite people to be with, because it really seemed to work out in that family!
It scares me a little bit because I'm afraid of divorce or ever thinking that I might have to go through one.  So that is something I really think about when I am dating around; making sure I find someone who really shares all of my values and is willing to work hard at hard things.
Getting a divorce isn't the end of the world, however, and I am not trying to say that if it happens your life will be miserable.  But it's for sure something to think about before you just run in and sign those papers.

Lesson 11!

In this week's lesson we talked about parenting and were able to watch a few videos about what to do and not to do with our children. 
I really have been blessed with great parents and I think they did a fantastic job! ;)
My parents were strict, but not too strict that I was rebellious.  They were also lenient but not too much that I didn't have structure.  They treated me as parents but were also my best friends.  I knew I could tell them anything and trust them with it, and I knew they would love me no matter what.  I knew I could tell them about the boys I liked, or the mistakes that I made. They pushed me enough to want to work hard, but not too much that it stressed me out.
I hope that when I am a parent I can be just like them and my kids can respond to me the same way I was able to.
I know there are good and not-so-good ways of parenting and those were demonstrated in the videos but also a lot of times noticeable on a daily basis!
One style of parenting is authoritative.  This is basically the parenting style that my parents have, and the style I am going to strive for.  There is another parenting style called authoritarian, and these are the parents who are always strict and don't leave room for children to make mistakes basically.  And the last major parenting style is permissive.  This is when parents just don't care to take time to parent their child, and they usually have hardly any structure.
In my child development class our teacher told us to just remember that we should parent our children the same way Heavenly Father parents us.  I think that is the most perfect advice to live by and it will make it so we are great parents and our children turn out successful.

Lesson 10!

This week we talked about fathers. 
I personally have the best dad ever! He is loving, caring, hard working, non complaining, big protective guy that I love to death! I know I am a better person because I have him in my life.  I am thankful for his example and how hard he works to keep our family happy, healthy, and strong.
I definitely wouldn't be where I am today without him!
I also know that fathers are important in every family.  I think that families who have a supporting father, are happier and also have a better outlook on life.
I was blessed with a dad who is a worthy priesthood holder.  I also think that having a worthy priesthood holder at the head of a home makes for a happier and blessed family.
I have seen in lives of others how not having a father affects them in a negative way.
My goal is to find someone to marry who is willing to be that hard working guy who will support our family.  I am thankful for fathers and the good they have on families, and especially thankful for our Father in Heaven who has blessed us with an earthly father.

Lesson 9!

A video we watched this week to prepare for class included a little talk by President Eyring talking about how the brethren in the church have councils.  There is an order in which each meeting goes, and it makes it so everyone knows what to expect and also so that it's organized.  They suggested we use that same system to have councils with our spouses and families. 
We also talked about how when we ever have problems or disagreements, we should talk about it as soon as we can to avoid conflict.
Conflict can bring contention, and when there is contention the spirit is not around and we are always striving to have the spirit with us.  If we are ever in a place where we and our spouse have an issue, work on trying to agree or finding a solution that will benefit you both as a system. 
I believe that if we choose to address our conflicts immediately it will bring us closer as spouses, and it will only get easier to confront each other.  It might even make it so conflict happens less.  I have seen it in my own life, when I am upfront about something to someone, it only makes it easier to deal with than if I were to ignore it and let it build.

Lesson 8!

In this week's lesson we talked about family stress and crisis.
In my family we have never really had to go through any large amount of stress or crisis.
However, I would like to think that if we did go through something big like that, it would only make us stronger. When a family has a lot to deal with, and there is a lot of stress because of a traumatic event, they are going to have to focus on their strengths to be able to get through it.  I believe if a family is focusing on their strengths in a critical situation like that, they are forced to come together, and work together to be able to get through it as a family.
I have a testimony of families and that if we work together as a whole, focusing on our strengths, it will only make us stronger, and unite us to the fullest.  

Lesson 7!

This week in all of my classes our lessons revolved around one subject, and that was sexual intimacy.  We talked about it a lot more in this class than my others, however. 
I know because of what I have been taught throughout my life and what has been reinforced in this class that sexual intimacy is something that needs to be kept until after marriage, and after marriage only.  It is a spiritual thing that should only be shared between spouses.  I am thankful for that knowledge I have, because I know that it helps me make better choices.  We read a few articles this week where studies showed that saving sexual intimacy until after marriage will strengthen marriages, and there is also a better chance that the marriage will last.
Also, by waiting until after marriage I am reducing the risk of becoming pregnant and not being able to be the best parent I can be.

I know that these rules and guidelines are here for our safety and happiness and I am thankful to attend a university that teaches us these principles so that we can stay on track!