Close Knit Families : Myths and Truths

You know you have spotted a close knit family when you see family members laughing, hugging, and always being around each other. These type of families love to spend time together. They can not imagine doing life without each other, even the thought of losing a family member brings tears to their eyes. Close knit families do not talk about each other poorly behind each others backs. This type of family spends time lifting, complimenting, and encouraging each other. I know what a close knit family looks like because I came from one. 🙂

I want to have a close knit family with my husband and my 4 children as well. This is so important to me. I know that close knit families have an easier time coping with trials, pain, and disappointments because they have each other.

Myths about close knit families…..

1. They have it all together : Nope they are far from perfect. God created everyone with different personalities and these personalities have to try to make it work together, sometimes it isn’t pretty.

2. They never fight : Oh they fight. Sisters pull each others hair growing up. Yelling and misunderstandings do happen.

3. They go on vacation together: Nope, you do not need to take your family on vacations to be close. You can and it is fun to travel with the ones you love but this is not what makes a family close.

4. Their children are involved in after school activities: Your child could be involved in zero outside of school activities and they will be just fine. I know from experience:)(thank you mom for free time after school).

5. Mom has to be a stay at home mom: not true. My wonderful mother went to work before I came home from school. So we saw her in the morning before we went to school and on weekends. It is a blessing to be a stay at home mommy but not every mommy is able to stay home with her children.

6. Mom has to do crafts and activities: Nope. So if you are not crafty your children will be just fine.

Truths about close knit families:

1. They are there for each other: If someone needs help in the family everyone will stop what they are doing and help each other out.  If one of my children is sick then the rest of us do their chores for them.

2.They love each other: 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Don’t forget to tell your children that you love them. Tell them randomly during lunch, when you drive with them, and every chance you get.

3. They stand up for each other: Standing up for each other will help each member of the family remember that someone had their back. I think this is super important for a close knit family. Standing up for each other will build up trust. Teach your children not to put each other down.

4. They help each other because they love each other and not because they will get something out of it:  Now that my sisters and I are married and we each have children of our own, we always watch each others kids for free. We help because we want to help and not because of money. Teach your children to help out for free. Older children can help younger children tie shoes, read, pick out clothes, and with so many other things.

5. They talk to each other often: Talking to each other about how every ones day was is important. Dinner time in our house is a very special time, it is a time when daddy gets to share with our children what is going on in the world today (the news). Our children love it because they get to participate in adult conversations and ask questions. I  still talk to my sisters and mom everyday on the telephone. I love being able to share everything with them.

6. Parents spend more time with their children than with others: If we think our child are super important then we have to show it by spending time with them. No we do not have to spend money to do this. We can read, laugh, and play together. Pick your children over friends. We need girl friends. Trust me, I know. But our children need us more than our friends.

I think it is so important that you  tell your children everyday that the people in your home are the most important people that there is. My mother would tell us that friends come and go but family stays forever. It is one of the most rewarding feeling to be in a close knit family. Your children (and mine :)) will feel braver, stronger, and feel much more important when they are in a close knit family.

Thank you Jesus for families. 🙂