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. 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 is family oriented? 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 further than 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 our 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 chose the appropriate times to do so. A self oriented person will chose 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 pursing 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 chose 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.
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 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 oriented, 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
Don’t take family for granted. It is a sure fire way to create distance from those you love. Frederick Douglass once said, “It is easier to 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.
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