Family first seems to be a motto for many, but do they really mean it? What does it mean to put your family first and be family oriented? We all want more time with our families and we want to be there for the special moments as well as the family night dinners, but work and other life commitments can make that a challenge sometimes. What is family oriented and why is being family oriented important anyway? Here I will answer those questions and address those challenges. I will talk about the meaning of being a family oriented person, why it is important, and how to become more centered around your family.
Family Oriented Meaning
What does family oriented mean? Simply put, a person who’s family oriented never loses sight of the importance of their family. Yes, other commitments may take them away at times. However, he or she will always focus on maintaining a strong presence in their family.
What is another way of saying family oriented? Synonyms are family based, family focused, and family centered. By any name, family oriented means someone who has their family at the heart of all that they do and all of the decisions that they make. It is someone who considers the well being of the family as a unit and thinks about maintaining that.
What does it mean to be family oriented? A family oriented person is someone who cares deeply about each family member and makes sure they feel seen and heard as well as accepted for who they are. Young children may need guidance and family support, but someone who is family centered makes sure their family relationships reflect love even when delivering criticism or discipline. Family life brings those who are family oriented great joy and family is the priority that they work to maintain. Family issues and family events come first whenever possible.
Why Is Being Family Focused Important?
A family man or woman goes beyond just being present for special occasions and important moments. They are mentally and emotionally present as well. It is in this way that we maintain the family bonds that hold us together.
Making sure you’re home for your child’s birthday party won’t mean anything if you spend the whole party on the phone talking about work. Instead, it means putting the phone away so that you can focus on your child and their happiness during the party.
Being family centered is important because there are so many distractions in this modern world. If we don’t make a true effort to protect the thing that is most important to us, family, it can be lost. A loving family is not a given. It takes effort to maintain it. Growing anything takes work and consistency, especially children! Love is a verb. We have to make connecting to our spouse and our children a priority.
This quote illustrates the point that we must actively care for what we love.
“Love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep on watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.”
― John Lennon
What Is The Opposite Of Family-Oriented?
The opposite of family oriented is selfish and isolated. A person who lacks family values and thinks about themself first and put their needs, wants, and desires before that of the family. While we may all need to be selfish on occasion and put ourselves first so that we can recharge our personal batteries, we have to pick and choose the appropriate times to do so. A self oriented person will choose to hang out at the bar with friends every week night because they need a break without thinking about how that may impact their spouse or children. A selfish person will not notice or mind that they miss all of the child’s extracurricular activities or they don’t play games or engage with their children.
Worse yet, are those who are extramarital affair oriented and spend all their time and money pursuing relationships outside of the marriage. This behavior will, of course, lead to divorce and a lowered mental state for both parents and the children as they try to cope with the ramifications of this destructive behavior.
5 Ways to Be A More Family Oriented Person
How do you become family oriented? Being a more family oriented person may seem like a challenge in your busy life, but it doesn’t have to be. A few simple choices can bring you and your entire family closer together. You can choose to have the characteristics of a family oriented person. It may take some time and effort but try adopting the 5 action points below.
1. Be There for The Important Moments
You may not make every daytime school event or every baseball game. However, do your best to schedule the important moments, like the school play or the baseball playoff game. Be there for the ones that really matter. And if you promise to make it to something, keep your promise; it shows your child that you love them and you’re committed to their happiness. It lets them know it is safe to rely on you.
2. Schedule Family Time
Plan regular family time every week. Choose a night when everyone’s home and make it game night or pizza night or movie night. Or change your family time theme every week. It doesn’t matter what you do, only that you do it together. Turn off the electronic devices and connect with each other face-to-face for some quality time.
3. Show Your Love
Your family doesn’t need you to buy them a lot of gifts or clear an entire day every week for them. They just want to know that they’re loved, appreciated, and important. Leave a note of encouragement for your child on a day when they have a big test. Make hot chocolate and snuggle on the couch when your child has had a bad day. And don’t forget words and actions of love for your spouse.
4. Be an Active Listener
You know that feeling when you’re trying to tell someone something important and they’re clearly not listening? Don’t be that poor listener. Give your family your attention when they talk to you. Put the phone down, turn down the volume on the TV, and give them your full attention. Make eye contact, ask relevant questions, and engage them in conversation. Being a good listener for 5 minutes is more important than being a distracted listener for 30. Let your family be the center of your world for at least a few minutes each day!
5. Practice Self-Care
Family oriented meaning doesn’t preclude ever focusing on yourself. Time to yourself may seem counteractive to your goal of being family orientated, but it’s not. A little time to yourself to decompress and unwind allows you to be more present for the people you love. Don’t forget to take care of your own needs so that you can take care of the people you love.
Conclusion
Being family-oriented generally means that someone prioritizes their family and values spending time with family members. It often involves being supportive of family members, participating in family activities, and considering the needs and well-being of the family as a whole when making decisions. Family orientation is all about providing the proper care and developing close family bonds.
Don’t take family for granted. It is a surefire way to create distance from those you love. Frederick Douglass once said, “It is easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” I would add to that, it is easier to show you care for your spouse each day, than repair a broken marriage which is the foundation for your family unit. So start today and put your family at the center of your heart. Furthermore, know they are important and their happiness and well-being are tied to your own happiness and well-being.
The family-oriented meaning is not about spending every waking moment of every day with your family. All you really need to do is regularly prioritize family time. Then, make the time you spend together matter by building and nurturing close relationships. Do you have a close-knit family? How do you foster family engagement?
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Raven says
When the family is made a priority to care for, child outcomes are so much better. “It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Frederick Douglass
Family-oriented people know that the opportunity to raise kids is our most precious gift and they are grateful for it.
morris shawn says
Being family-oriented means prioritizing and valuing your family above all else. It involves placing a high importance on family relationships, bonds, and responsibilities, and making decisions that benefit the well-being and happiness of your family members. Here’s a closer look at what it means to be family-oriented:
Prioritizing Family
Making time for family
Being family-oriented means dedicating time and effort to spend quality moments with your family members, whether it’s through shared activities, meals, or conversations.
Putting family first
Family-oriented individuals prioritize the needs and interests of their family members above their own, making sacrifices and compromises to ensure their family’s happiness and welfare.
Supporting family members
Being family-oriented involves providing emotional, financial, and practical support to family members during times of need, crisis, or celebration.
Jack says
Thank you for this amazing blog! The type of people who care about doing their best for and with their family are rewarded with young adults that are easier to care for and often more successful since they have less internal struggles.
Penny says
Nice blog! Being family oriented makes a valuable contribution to your loved one and to society by adding healthier individuals that make better choices as a result of good upbringing. Family-oriented means having a deep commitment to strong connections within the family. Thanks For Sharing.
Adriel Gleason says
Your into insights into being family-oriented meaning have been incredibly helpful, thank you. It should also involve a strong sense of loyalty, care, and involvement in both immediate and extended family matters.
Noa K. Braun says
Your words have the power to change lives and I am grateful for the positive impact you have had on mine. Thank you. I really enjoyed your definition of family oriented that it involves placing a high priority on family relationships, values, and activities.