Homework: Family
• Your first homework in this class asked you to identify a word that describes your family, and then to go further by discussing why you chose that specific word. This homework asks you to go much deeper. Specifically, with this homework, you will be asked to reflect on the full nature of your family: who makes up your family structure/system, how did you come to be a "family", what are the roles, organizational makeup and stressors of your family, etc.
• For this homework, you are asked to use your own family to complete the homework because the personal nature of it allows more connection with the material. That connection helps to saturate your learning, and creates an opportunity to experience what clients may experience when you help them identify, address, and process their family-related needs. In that regard, you will have the opportunity to appreciate all that comes with this in-depth reflective process.
• By completing an assessment of the resiliency factors for yourself and your family, you will be able to more clearly affirm how each individual knows the factors that contribute to success and stress within their own families. After you have delineated the various protective and risk factors for yourself and your family, you will also describe how race, class, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation and differing personal abilities affect you and your family system.
• With the aforementioned in mind, I encourage you to do the following: give yourself time and give yourself permission.
• When I say "give yourself time", I mean just that. Give yourself time to approach and complete the homework.
o Some may approach this homework with excitement. This homework may become a great opportunity to pick up that genealogy project you've been thinking about. It is also a good excuse to make time in your day to call "Memaw" or "Big Momma" and just talk about life, growing up, and your family ("Granddaddy" and "PawPaw" would love that!).
o Others may approach this homework with great hesitancy. You may have worked hard to forget/move on/etc. from past/painful family history, and this homework may require visitation to some "c/old" places. While this does NOT mean you have to write about these places/experiences, it still may mean opening a door to a place that has been purposefully sealed shut.
o For either/both of these experiences, it takes time. Time to really appreciate what is involved in gathering the data for a full, clear, and concise assessment, and time to manage all forms of emotion that can come with the process. Hence, note that the estimated 4 to 5 days for completion is really "writing time", and not reflective of the data gathering and processing that may be involved.
• In addition to giving yourself time, you also want to give yourself permission.
o Give yourself permission to talk [face-to-face or virtually] with family about life.
o Give yourself permission to tap out of the homework when you need to and go have an ice cream taco (I mean, ice cream AND tacos? Come on!).
o Give yourself permission to laugh and give yourself permission to scream. You would do the same for clients, correct? Well, why not start by giving yourself the permission and safe space that you desire to one day create for them?
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
• The answer must be using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, typed, with one-inch margins on all sides.
• The response also includes a cover page containing the student's name, the title of the homework, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
• Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.