Family Bonding FACS Essentials

Walk a mile in my shoes... Family relationships can be difficult! It is important that we communicate and work through our problems. It is also important to understand where your family members are coming from in order to understand how to strengthen your relationships.

Teen-Parent Relationships Teens feel like…. 1- Parents just don’t understand them 2- They don’t have enough freedom 3- Parents are constantly nagging at you to do chores 4- Parents do not trust them 5- ______________________________________________________________ ___

Parent-Teen Relationship Parents feel like Teens just don’t understand them 2- They are overworked and underpaid 3- Teens are lazy and won’t help them out with simple chores 4- Teens do not trust their judgement 5- _________________________________________________________________ ___________

Teen-Parent Case Study Tina is 15 years old and lives in a single parent family. She has been arguing with your mom, Judy, lately about not being able to spend enough time with her friends. Tina has a list of chores she to do in her house before she can hangout with friends. TIna feels like she shouldn’t have to do so many chores but Judy just wants help around the house. Judy works 2 jobs and rarely has free time.. 1-Put yourself in Tina’s shoes. Write an I-message from Tina to her mom to explain Tina’s perspective. (I-Message=I feel…. when….because… and I would like you to….) 2- Put your yourself in Judy’s shoes. Write an I-message from Judy to her daughter to explain Judy’s perspective. 3- How can they come to a compromise and strengthen their relationship?

Teen- Grandparent Relationships Teens feel like… 1- Grandparents are old and boring. 2- They have nothing in common with someone so old. 3- They are like a second parent so they nag a lot. 4- Grandparents are always trying to give you advice from “back in their day.” 5- _________________________________________________________________ ____________

Grandparent-Teen Relationships Grandparents feel like… 1- Teens are young and lazy. 2- They just to find something they have in common that they can share. 3- They are like second children so they take a lot of care and time. 4- Teens won’t ever listen to any of your advice “from back in the day.” 5- _________________________________________________________________ _______

Teen-Grandparent Case Study Chad is 14 years old and has just made the baseball team at school. He has never been close with his grandpa, Jack. Jack used to play baseball when he was a teenager and so they have recently made a connection. However, Chad feels like Grandpa Jack has just been nagging at him lately rather than helping. Grandpa Jack is just thrilled they finally have something in common. 1- Put yourself in Chad’s shoes. Write and I-message from Chad to his grandpa to explain Chad’s perspective. 2- Put yourself in Grandpa Jack’s shoes. Write and I-message from Jack to his grandson to explain Jack’s perspective. 3- How can they come to a compromise and strengthen their relationship?

Your turn! 1- Make up and example relationship. Include 3 ways that each person sees things differently. 2-Create your own case study scenario. 3- Write and I-message from each person's perspective. 4- Explain how they can compromise and strengthen the relationship.

Your Scenario

Letter to a Family Member On a separate sheet of paper, write a letter to a family member that you have a difficult relationship with. Use the same general format that we have been using for this entire lesson. Be sure to communicate… -What bothers you in a respectful way -Express that you understand what could be bothering them -Suggest a compromise that will strengthen the relationship