Do you know how important it is to talk to your children about their family history?
According to the book The Secrets of Happy Families written by Bruce Feiler you need to talk about your family history with your children.
The following is an excerpt from the book:
Tell your story. The most important thing you can do may be the easiest of all. Tell your children the story of their family. Children who know more about their parents, grandparents, and other relatives – both their ups and their downs – have higher self-esteem and greater confidence to confront their own challenges. Researchers have found that knowing more about family history is the single biggest predictor of a child's emotional well-being.
Studies have shown that children who know about their family history are better adjusted and have higher self esteem. They feel connected to something.
Do you talk to your children about family stories? Do they know where their family originated?
Take time to talk over dinner about stories of your parents and grandparents. Tell them about where you lived as a child, and stories about when you grew up. Make it a point to share the interesting stories that have been passed down from your older family members.
Have you done any family research? Did you have a family member who fought in the Civil War? If your family was here before the 1850's you probably had an ancestor in the Civil War. Did you have an ancestor that fought in the Revolutionary War? Your children will be interested in these things, especially when they are studying them in school.
I didn't know much of my family history. I started researching a year ago and have found out so much. I did have ancestors that were a part of The Massachusetts Bay Colony and some that were on the Mayflower. I had family members in the Revolutionary War, The War of 1812., The Spanish American War, The Mexican War, The Civil War, and all of the wars since then. I was totally amazed to find out all of this. I didn't know anything about any of this growing up. My family was a part of building this country. I believe had I known that growing up I would have had a better sense of self. It has taken me a long time to develop the self confidence I have today. Would I have had that as a child had I known more, the studies say I would.
If you are interested in doing any research there is a free website sponsored by the LDS church. The sight is FamilySearch.org. You have to sign up, but there is no cost, and they don't ask for a credit card or any information like that.
If you are interested in learning about your family go check it out.
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ReplyDeleteIf I had known I'd grandfathers in the Alabama Assembly, 1858/60, many more who were magistrates, judges, justices, Speaker's, in some of the most famous colonial trials, now forgotten, who established Courts and Justice in the settlement of colonies. Read their paper of The 26 day of the Ninth Month called November, 1681, they signed, at avalon.law.yale.edu that's been at my local library my entire life...
ReplyDeleteHad I known this, I'd like to think I'd have set my sights higher. A career teaching others is good too.
From the Flushing Remonstrance to the Remonstrance of Lord Cornbury is a three generational family story. Descendants in the room at the first were also at the second, but the factions had re-arranged.
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