What is a Traditional Family Model and Its Evaluation Based on My Family

I believe that my family is a “traditional” family. There are a few reasons why I believe this. In this essay I will attempt to describe what I envision as a “traditional” family and explain why I believe my family to be one.

It is said that “Traditional” families have two parents; a mother and a father, 2.5 children and a family pet. Also that in the traditional family the father is the head of the household and the sole bread winner while the mother stays at home taking care of the family. In my opinion a more realistic view is similar but the number of children can be rounded up or down so no one has to be half a child. But seriously, I believe that it’s possible for a family to be a traditional family with both parents earning an income. It may be harder than when one parent remains at home with the sole responsibility of maintaining the household but it is definitely possible. I think that having two loving and supportive parents are a vital part of making the family fit the traditional mold. Aside from that there are core values and practices that bring it all together. The parents should be best friends with each other and enjoy being around each other. A “traditional” family should do things together like going to the lake in the summer and going sledding in the winter. “Traditional” families should share their meals together. It’s important to gather at meal time to discuss important matters and catch up on how everyone is doing. Of course midday meals are difficult with work and school schedules and breakfast can be hectic as everyone tries to get out the door and start their day, but attempts should still be made. A family dinner is a great way to wind down and keep the family traditional.

“Traditional” families should take vacations together as a family like going to an amusement park to go on the rides or a different state like Washington D.C. where they could look at the monuments. Extended family is an important part of the traditional family. If extended family members do not live near each other, family trips to visit extended family every year should be a priority. Holidays are a fun time when the whole family comes together. “Traditional” families often travel by car to their vacation spot. But if they don’t have enough time they should take a plane so it will go much faster.

I believe that my family is a “traditional” family because most of these things apply to my family. My family is a Christian family and hold to Christian values. My parents were high school sweethearts and married shortly after high school when my father joined the Air Force. He was stationed here at Nellis A.F.B., that’s what brought the two of them to Nevada. They waited until after my father was out of the military before they had any children. My brother is 19 and I am 16 years old. My parents have been married for 25 years now. We have always had pets. Right now we have a dog and a cat but over the years we have had many pets including geckos, chameleons, rats, mice, snakes, tortoise, ferrets, rabbits, goats, chickens and horses. We live on an acre and when my brother and I were little my father put together a petting zoo for us in the back yard. For many years my mother was a homemaker and maintained our home while my father was the sole bread winner. I feel very fortunate to have had my mother so available all those years. Mom would take care of everyone. She would make breakfast, lunch and dinner for everyone. She would help us with our homework and take us to practice or school functions. My father is a firefighter so he works 24 hour shifts. He works ten 24 hour shifts each month which means he is off twenty days each month. That allows my father to be home with us a lot of the time. He would coach the little league team my brother and I were on or coach us individually in other sports.

My brother and I were homeschooled so we were able to take family trips. Once we went to Carson City and visited the state capital. We actually did that twice. Once when my brother was in the sixth grade doing a report on the State of Nevada and once when I was in the sixth grade doing a report on the State of Nevada. We also visited Virginia City and learned about silver mining. One of my favorite trips was to Washington D.C. where we spent several days looking at monuments and museums. Although the trip we made to Gettysburg was neat too. We have taken lots of family trips together. Every year we go to Northern California for Christmas and visit family. That’s where my parents are from. My grandparents have passed away on both sides but we still get together with aunts, uncles and a lot of cousins.

These days my mother works too, she works for the City of Henderson. My brother is in college and I am in the Nevada State High School program. Some days it’s hard to fit family time in our busy schedules but we try to have dinner together as often as possible. We still take family trips together but not as often. It’s not as easy as when mom wasn’t working and my brother and I could take our school work with us. But I think we still maintain the values and have the make up to be considered a traditional family.