Family Relations Blog

Dear Blog!! Today I want to share how my parents raised me. I know I’ve already talked a lot about my family’s divorces and the changes we’ve gone through, but I haven’t explained how those experiences shaped the person I am today. If I had to describe myself, I’d say I’m kind, considerate, emotional, and independent. These qualities didn’t just develop on their own—they came from my family, especially my mom, and from my spiritual journey. As I was growing up, my mom took me to many churches: Baptist, Christian, and eventually The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which I’ve loved and stayed with ever since. That spiritual foundation, along with my mom’s example, helped form the person I am now. My mom had a lot on her shoulders. She went through two divorces in the span of 18 years and was a single mom for some of that time. She showed signs of stress, understandably, as she tried to juggle raising children while managing her own emotional challenges. When my siblings misb...

 Putting Family First: Lessons from My Loud, Loving, Real-Life Home Growing up in a blended family of ten kids, I learned quickly that family life is full of chaos—but it’s the kind of chaos that teaches you about love, sacrifice, and teamwork. With five sisters (Azren, Ava, Sophia, McKenzie, and Brooklyn) and four brothers (Rylan, Ayden, Brennan, and Little Mikey), plus my mom and stepdad, Big Mikey, our house was never quiet, but it was deeply grounded in purpose. Everyone had chores. Everyone had responsibilities. And somehow, even when things were hectic, we all knew we mattered. This week’s readings and podcast made me think about how much that family experience has shaped the way I view work, money, and the kind of future I want. In the Them Before Us podcast, two women shared what it was like growing up without a father figure because of their mothers’ same-sex relationships. Their stories weren’t bitter—but they were honest. They missed something. Hearing them made me reali...

Dear Blog, When I think about my journey with communication, I can’t help but reflect on my past relationships—especially with my two exes. Those experiences taught me a lot about love, myself, and what healthy communication really means. My first boyfriend, Ricky, and I met in 8th grade. When high school started, I had a lot of free time and little understanding of healthy emotional boundaries. I constantly messaged him. If he didn’t reply quickly, I’d get upset and sometimes cry. My mood depended on whether I heard from him. Looking back, I realize how much I relied on communication as proof of love. I was clingy, desperate for constant connection, and didn’t understand that it’s okay to have space in a relationship. A psychology teacher once said, “If you think your boyfriend or girlfriend needs to text you every second of the day, get a life.” At the time, it stung, but it stuck with me. I started trying to have deeper conversations instead of flooding him with texts. Ricky wasn’t ...

Dear Blog, Family life is full of joyful memories, painful lessons, and moments that change us forever. As I look back on my own journey and the path my family has walked, I see not just the hardships, but the strength we’ve shown in facing them. Using symbolic interaction theory—which explores how people interpret events and how those meanings guide their responses—has helped me understand how deeply these experiences shaped who we are. Financial Struggles When we lived in Maricopa, AZ, and around the time my mom divorced my siblings' dad, money was always tight. My mom worked long shifts at Fry's and took on babysitting gigs just to cover the basics. Still, she would find ways to give us what we needed—or even wanted—often sacrificing her own comfort. Her unspoken message was always, "You are worth everything." Watching her come home exhausted yet still willing to help with homework or surprise us with a treat taught us the true meaning of selflessness. Death and Lo...

  In my recent readings on sexuality and marriage ( Lauer Ch. 4 , Brotherson , Gardner ), I reflected deeply on my past relationships—especially those in which I gave everything I had: my money, my clothes, my body, my time, my energy, and my thoughts. I believed that by giving so much, I could build a strong connection and earn the commitment I wanted. However, looking back, I realize many of those relationships showed ambivalence at best. I did not receive the respect, care, or emotional safety I deserved, and that imbalance left me feeling drained and undervalued. One chapter that stood out was Lauer’s exploration of the differences between male and female sexual responses. This helped me understand why some of my experiences felt so difficult. I recall situations where my ex-partner mostly focused on the physical side of me—he valued my body more than my feelings or boundaries. Once he fulfilled his desires, he lost interest or moved on emotionally, which left me feeling used a...

 Dear Class, I've talked about my family a lot, but now I want to share how things changed when I first met my stepdad. My mom and my younger siblings' dad, Jasper, had separated but hadn’t finalized their divorce. During this time, life felt peaceful—structured routines, financial stability, and emotional calm. Without legal battles or forced custody schedules, our home operated in a way that made sense for us. My mom worked hard, but she made sure everything ran smoothly: consistent meals, a stable sleep schedule, and a rhythm that brought comfort to me and my seven siblings. Our household was close-knit. With seven kids, we did everything together—helping with homework, playing outside, and spending weekends at the park. Family outings were a staple of our lives, moments where we could enjoy each other without worrying about responsibilities. Despite Jasper no longer being present in our home, we relied on each other for support and leaned on our mom, who provided structure ...