Family and society

What are the specific responsibilities of the children in your family?

In the first picture I can see a mother teaching her son to wash the dishes.
While she is holding the plated her son is trying to wash it with a dish sponge.
I think it is important to involve children in household chores because tasks
like cleaning the house, doing the laundry and washing the dishes are part of
daily life. In my family each person has rights and responsibilities. Firstly,
each family member has to share the household chores, like dusting,
vacuuming, sweeping and mopping the floors, doing the laundry taking out the
rubbish. Secondly, family members are expected to help with preparing
meals. Our duties vary from peeling potatoes and other vegetables to laying
the table and washing the dishes after the family meal is over. And finally,
since we have two dogs, it's our responsibility to feed them and take them for
a walk. In addition, in summer, we need to help our parents with mowing the
lawn, watering the plants and weeding the garden.

What are the specific responsibilities of the parents in your family?

Not only children but also parents need to fulfil their responsibilities in the
family. Firstly, my parents support their children by providing us with a
dwelling and clothing. Secondly, my parents provide us with the best possible
education and afterschool activities. Thirdly, they teach us morals and values
like honesty, respect, responsibility, patience and generosity. And finally, but
perhaps most importantly, they try hard to bring us up in a loving and caring
family environment.

Which special occasions do your extended family meet on?

In the second picture I can see a family reunion. I think that the special
occasion that the family is meeting on is Thanksgiving. I believe this firstly
because the picture shows a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In the middle of
the table there is a large roast turkey, which is being served with cranberry
sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables like sweetcorn,
radishes, Brussels sprouts and parsnips. And secondly, three generations of
the family - grandparents, parents and children - are enjoying the festive
dinner and probably talking about what they are thankful for. My family also
meets on special occasions like christenings, communions, confirmations, and
weddings. However, not only happy but also sad occasions like funerals bring
family members together.

What type of family do you come from?

I come from a step family. A couple of years ago my parents divorced, and my
father moved abroad because of work. Then, my mother introduced me and
my little brother to her new boyfriend and his two daughters, who turned out
to be nice and caring people. After spending more and more time together, we
realised that we get on well together and are happy in each other's company.
My brother and I were excited when my mother told us that her boyfriend
had proposed to her and that she had decided to remarry. After the wedding,
we were not two separate families anymore. We've got a stepfather who we
look up to and two lovely step sisters. Besides step families, there are many
other types of families in society.
Firstly, there is the nuclear family in which the parents and their children live in
a common household. Secondly, another family type is the extended family
which consists of parents and their children who share a common household
with other relatives such as grandparents, but sometimes also uncles, aunts
and cousins. All the members of the family participate in raising the children
and in household duties. Thirdly, there is the single-parent family. In this type
of family, a single mother or a single father raises the children on their own.
And finally, in modern, open-minded societies some children are brought up in
same-sex families.

Who makes the important decisions in your family?

My parents have always respected their children's opinions. When an
important decision needs to be made,
we usually sit at our kitchen table and all the family members participate in the
decision making.
When it comes to everyday activities we decide together; however, when
more serious decisions need to be made,
it's our parents who make the final decision.

Who do you admire in your family?

The person I admire most in my family is my father. Firstly, I look up to him
because he always puts his family first. He never forgets important dates like
name days, birthdays or wedding anniversaries.
Secondly, I respect him for what he's achieved in his job. He worked hard to
move ahead in his career, and today he's a successful manager in an
international company. Thirdly, I believe that his unique personality traits like
kindness, persistence, love of learning, and humour are worthy of admiration.

What qualities do you like in your sister/brother?

My big sister is the kindest person I know. I can turn to her anytime I need a
piece of advice or someone to talk to about how my day has been, as Well as
my problems. She's the best listener and always happy to help. Since she
relates well to others, she's got a lot of friends. They like her because she's
sociable, energetic and talkative. In addition, I admire her because she takes
her studies very seriously. She's decided to become a dentist, and in order to
achieve her goal she takes full responsibility for her grades at school. To sum
up, besides many other things, I like my sister because she's kind,
understanding, helpful, sociable, energetic, talkative, responsible and goal-
oriented.

Which senior member of your family do you respect the most?

I deeply respect my grandmother. She's the one who keeps our big family
together by keeping the tradition of family get-togethers alive. Thanks to her
our extended family meets regularly, and I have excellent relationships not
only with my grandparents but also with my cousins, aunts and uncles. What's
more, a strong family together with my grandmother's wisdom help when a
member of the family is in trouble. As soon as she learns that one of us is in
need of help she is willing to do anything to solve the situation. To sum up, I
respect my grandmother because of her endless devotion to her family
 How often do you see your grandparents?
We live on the other side of the country, so we don't see our grandparents
often. We usually visit them on special occasions like birthdays, Christmas or
Easter. However, this doesn't mean we're not in touch. We call each other
almost every day and we see each other face to face on Skype. In this way,
we can share the good moments, small successes and failures almost in the
same way as if we saw each other in person.

What are your favourite family activities?

Since each member of my family lives a busy life, it's difficult to set aside time
for family activities during the school term. However, one of the reasons I love
Christmas is the ski holidays with my family. Each year we spend a week in a
different ski resort During that week we not only participate in activities
everyone enjoys but also talk and laugh a lot and play various games. I
consider it my favourite family activity because, besides skiing and
snowboarding, it is the time we spend together as a family.

Who influenced you the most in your life?

The person who has influenced me most is my mother. Firstly, she's created a
home where we not only relax but also speak honestly and openly about our
problems. Secondly, she listens patiently to my problems and is always there
to help. Thirdly, she always makes me feel that I can achieve my goals. By
being understanding and supportive she has shaped me into who I am today -
a self-reliant, assertive and positive person.