What is true identity?: The importance of teaching your child the family history
Children love stories. Through stories, they become hero/ines, visit fantastic places, and make friends with powerful creatures. When they hear you tell a story, they would loyally sit on their favorite place in the room and give their whole attention only to you. You become their most favorite person. That is why when your child or grandchild asks where they come from, you must know you have been tasked to tell a story—a story of your family.
While a family history gives mere facts of the persons related to you and how you are related to each other, it presents a key to unlock aspects of your child’s true identity. Studying the family with your child gives them gifts they will need and can use as they grow older. First and foremost, our true identity lies in the roots of our ancestors.
Why is it important to learn our origin?
Life advice. While children are still young, introducing them to the family history will help them appreciate and respect their heritage. It is both rewarding and fulfilling to be able to pass down what you have learned from the years of your life and inspire your children to apply these tidbits of wisdom as they go their own way. They will be able to see the world with a bigger and a more open mind, and this form of guidance will be incredibly helpful to aiding them find their true identity.
Career path. When we have trouble choosing our career path, we can consult our family tree and find out which jobs our ancestors took and how they ended up working in their chosen field. From this information, our children can learn from the success, challenges, and failed attempts of the choices made by the people before them and even help them determine what kind of career path they truly want.
Medical history. This aspect of discovering your true identity is very important. Knowing beforehand the health issues that are common among family members or distant relatives can give an early warning to any threats to your child’s health.
Personal history. Telling your children how you got through childhood—embarrassing moments, your first day of school, your most cherished adventure, a difficult test at school, and even the painful loss of your pet and loved ones—is a powerful and meaningful experience. This sharing can help them feel closer to you and will result in a deeper connection. They will also learn about what brought you through (the support of loved ones), and that’s what makes you unique and amazing in their eyes.
Understanding. Your story is one of the many gateways to understanding why others are the way they are. For example, learning about how hard it was for your own parents to raise you and how they didn’t always find the best way to protect you or even leave you alone and unprotected may open understanding of what moves you and people. Children will gain deeper understanding and empathy for others and for themselves. This will also help them discover parts of their true identity and what moves them. They will then value discovering their past in a new way.
Unity. As a family gathers in one place and talk about the family’s history, it creates unity and sense of belongingness. They find common grounds to stand on, and in turn, this will create peace within the family and help in supporting each other and working through relationships.
What is true identity? We can only answer it by tracing our roots. If you feel the need to learn more about your family history, taking time to do research will lead to an eye-opening encounter with your past. Better yet, set aside time to make a family tree together with your family members.
Learning it with your children will make this project fulfilling and memorable. Be ready to discover hero/ines and villains and all those plots that brought you wherever you are right now. You may suddenly discover why certain things mean what they mean to you or why you are working so hard to change the story of your own family.
Depending on your child’s age and sensibility, I wonder how you are going to tell the story about your family. I wonder if you would change as much or as little as you do with other stories. I wonder what these discoveries meant to you then, when you were a child, and now that you are an adult and the parent.
Family history can be complicated; but it should be appreciated, nevertheless. Find more inspiring stories to tell and learn with your children by visiting www.immigrantmomandme.com. Also, take time to check on any updates on childcare and other relevant topics right on your screen by simply following me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Have a lovely day!
References
Burn, Caitlin. May 13, 2014. “25 Reasons to Learn about Your Family History.” A Place for Mom, May 13. Accessed October 26, 2017. https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/5-13-14-reasons-to-learn-your-family-history/.
Christensen, Emily. n.d. “4 Reasons You Should Study Your Family History.” FamilyShare. Accessed October 26, 2017. https://familyshare.com/1691/4-reasons-you-should-study-your-family-history.
Our Everday Life Contributor. n.d. “How to Teach a Child the Family Tree.” Our Everyday Life. Accessed October 26, 2017. https://oureverydaylife.com/teach-child-family-tree-2121251.html.
