Question 

We have a family reunion coming up this summer and I’m not so sure I want to attend. None of us sisters really get along very well and so our children hardly know each other. My kids have sports camps and other commitments virtually every weekend, so this just feels like we’re cramming one more thing in. I feel torn out of obligation to go, but I honestly have no idea if it even matters. It’s not like anything changes in my relationships with my family after attending in the past. We just do our best to get through it and life goes back to normal. Is this something I should feel guilty about missing?

Answer 

Unless your family is abusive or emotionally toxic for your marriage or your kids, then I recommend you go. It doesn’t sound like there are any reasons not to go, except that you don’t feel close to your family. Because you’re asking me the question and feel some kind of emotional pull toward your family, I’m going to encourage you to lean into your family and show up.

I could write ten columns about the effect our individualistic culture has on our relationships. It keeps us focused only on what’s best for us. We act like consumers in relationships and become dissatisfied easily and expect our loved ones to live up to our expectations. These attitudes untie us from the moorings of family, neighbors, and community connection.

Ultimately, this is bad for our mental and emotional health, as we’re wired to thrive in groups. Being with a group of strangers or friends at a soccer game isn’t going to fill you up the same way you can be filled as you work hard to invest in and improve your family relationships.

Why are you distant from your siblings and parents? Are you waiting for them to make the move to connect? What would happen if you really took an interest in their lives and used this reunion as an opportunity to build new bridges?

I also think it’s important for your children to connect to the larger family so they can better connect to their own history. There are stories, memories, and important experiences embedded in every family that can give children and teens a sense of belonging and identity that you can’t give them on your own.

A family reunion is only as meaningful as you make it. Every person there has stories, gifts, struggles, and important things to contribute to the whole group. I encourage you to go with an open mind so you can approach your siblings, parents, and all of the children with a curiosity that will build new bridges.

Ask good questions and give them your undivided attention so you can learn about them. You might be surprised at what you learn.

Again, unless your family is abusive or harmful, then it’s worth it to invest in building relationships with these people. Give your children the opportunity to know themselves better through the lives of their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. You might be surprised how your interest, energy, and enthusiasm toward your family members can shift the entire family dynamic and create a new experience for everyone attending.

Geoff will answer a new family and relationship question every Friday. You can email your question to him at ge***@lo************.com

About the Author

Geoff Steurer is a licensed marriage and family therapist in St. George, UT. He is the owner of Alliant Counseling and Education (www.alliantcounseling.com) and the founding director of LifeStar of St. George, an outpatient treatment program for couples and individuals impacted by pornography and sexual addiction (www.lifestarstgeorge.com). He is the co-author of “Love You, Hate the Porn: Healing a Relationship Damaged by Virtual Infidelity”, available at Deseret Book, and the audio series “Strengthening Recovery Through Strengthening Marriage”, available at www.marriage-recovery.com. He also writes a weekly relationship column for the St. George News (www.stgnews.com). He holds a bachelors degree from BYU in communications studies and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Auburn University. He served a full-time mission to the Dominican Republic and currently serves as the primary chorister. He is married to Jody Young Steurer and they are the parents of four children.

You can connect with him at:
Website: www.lovingmarriage.com
Twitter: @geoffsteurer
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GeoffSteurerMFT