All Quiet on the Easter Front: Surviving "Family Time"
By Jon Choate
I've noticed that as we get older we do our best to avoid spending time with our families. I'm not one to judge, because I do it too, but there seems to a stigma about so-called "family-time." This past weekend, Easter, in case you didn't know, was a big chunk of family-time for me, and I managed to survive. You can do it too.
To start off, when they suggest you do something as a family, don’t get angry. They’re well within their rights. I really don't want to turn this into a parent appreciation thing, but you need some perspective. Look at it this way, your parents have (probably) paid for almost everything you own, most of your meals, transportation, schooling, etc. Then there's the time commitment. Those endless nights when you were but a babe, toilet-training, who knows how many baseball games or recitals or other activities, and others. You are in some serious debt to them. Now, you might see this as simply their parental duty, and if you do, I'm not going to try and change that, but you have to realize that they see it as good reason for you to spend some time with them. The fact is, you owe them big time, and until you can give them back eighteen years of their life and a good deal of money, you'll continue to.
Part of the problem is image. Who wants people to see them with their parents instead of out cruising? Going to a movie with my family, walking through the mall with all the people there gives me shivers. I can imagine them seeing me and thinking, “What a loser.” Substitute your own thought. There are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen with your parents, no, wait, there aren’t. From a purely objective view there’s nothing wrong with it, and it’s probably even good, but there’s nothing that you can do to change another person's view of the situation. Like it or not, they'll think what they think. That’s ok. You know why? This isn’t about them, this is about you. If you can walk down that mall with your parents and siblings unfazed, then it’s a good sign that you’re growing up. Think of it as a test of your maturity.
Agreeing to do something with them, (though sometimes it’s not by agreement,) and being seen with them aren’t the only obstacles you need to overcome. Most important is not getting them angry, or getting mad yourself. First of all, a family activity is just that, a family activity. You’ve got to see yourself as part of it, and in consequence, a follower of its rules and traditions. Play by the rules of the game, and chances are that things can’t get too bad. A good rule of thumb is that your happiness will depend on theirs, if they get mad, you’ll get mad. Even if you don’t find what you’re doing too enjoyable, it could be much worse with their anger thrown in. Above all, do your best to enjoy yourself, life just isn’t as fun when you don’t. Make the best of your circumstances.
Family time is not always fun time, and around my age it can get close to a real pain time. Don’t let that get to you. Look past yourself and do something for your parents who have done so much for you, for your siblings (if you have them) who have to put up with you, and maybe, just maybe, things won’t be so bad.
About the Author:
What to say? I'm a sophomore in high-school who loves to write fiction, non-fiction, drama, and especially poetry. I'm a captain of my school's JV basketball team, (although snails with crippling birth-defects could outjump me.) I'm an actor, actively involved in the theatre at my school. I play violin in the Youth Symphony on Honolulu. I party on the weekends. I am your stereotypical, shooting for success, overworked, stressed, exhausted teen, and I'm loving every minute of it.
Article courtesy of www.suite101.com.
