The word “familial” here may cause some initial confusion.
Even if you know what familial means, you may still wonder what types of relationships are considered familial.
While every girl knows what a relationship is, because there are so many different types, it’s helpful to have some clarification.
For instance, if you are cohabitating with your long-term partner and they join you and your family for holiday get-togethers, does that mean that you have a familial relationship with your partner?
Let’s sort this out and resolve any confusion about what a familial relationship actually is.
Familial relationships include any relationship with your immediate or extended family members. It only officially includes your partner and their family if you are married.
Occasionally, you may develop a familial connection with someone who isn’t blood-related, such as through adoption or foster care.
Familial bonds refer to especially close relationships between family members and can sometimes be considered personal relationships.
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Why are familial relationships important?
Sure, your sister may get on your nerves by constantly borrowing and never returning your clothes, your mom may be overbearing, and your father may be absent.
Or maybe you are amongst those who are fortunate enough to have a loving, supportive family.
Either way, familial relationships are still important – even if you have moments when you wish that you were adopted.
Familial relationships are essential for your growth and development by giving you a sense of safety and connection.
Strong family ties can provide support, alleviate stress, and teach the concept of trust and endurance through difficult times.
Everyone first learns relationship habits through the strength and nature of their family relationships.
For example, if one parent walked out of the home when you were a child, then you may have insecurities in your personal relationships as an adult.
Healthy familial relationships often lead to longer lasting and more fulfilling personal relationships.
Additionally, family relationships offer a sense of security. If you can’t afford an apartment and also pay off your student loans, then it’s always great to have your mom and dad as a backup.
Although cohabitating is now socially acceptable, marriage still gives you security in your romantic relationship.
While some girls cherish their sense of independence and are reluctant to settle down, it can still be nice to head home for the holidays and enjoy time with nieces and nephews in lieu of having their own children.
On the other hand, there are still girls who dream of marriage and a house full of kids. Either way, most people crave a familial connection.
If you don’t have a close relationship with your own family, then you may have become close enough to a friend’s family to consider them to be your own.
Family doesn’t always need to be based on blood relations. Sometimes, familial relationships are developed with people with whom you have bonded, even if they don’t share your DNA.
How to build healthy familial relationships
Maybe you are already close to your family but are at odds with your new in-laws. Or you may want to repair a previously damaged relationship with your family.
The hard truth is that it takes effort from all parties involved to strengthen any type of relationship.
Even if you can’t establish healthy familial relationships solely by your own effort, at least you can do your part.
Familial relationships can be built and strengthened by effective communication, quality time, teamwork, and appreciation.
Occasionally, you may experience a disagreement with a family member and the only way to repair the relationship is through forgiveness.
In most cases, you are automatically part of the family that you were born into – but that doesn’t always mean that it’s going to be easy.
Here are some strategies that you can use to strengthen your familial bonds and repair any previous damage in your familial relationships.
Effective Communication
As an adolescent, you may have been prone to slamming your bedroom door and giving your parents the silent treatment, which was normal at that age.
However, maintaining familial relationships as an adult requires communication.
Instead of no longer speaking to a relative after a disagreement, call them or send them an email to discuss the situation.
Quality Time
Sure, you may be busy now that you’re grown. Heck, you may have moved halfway across the country! Even so, quality time is essential to maintaining healthy familial relationships.
It may mean booking a flight to head home for the holidays or visiting an aging relative in a nursing home, but it’s worth the inconvenience.
If you are married with a family of your own, simple things such as eating dinner together, tossing a ball with your kids, or going on family outings are important for building a healthy family relationship.
Of course, you need to set aside one on one time with your spouse, as well.
Teamwork
Once you have moved out on your own this may not be as important, but you should still be there for your family members when they need help and (hopefully) they’ll reciprocate.
After you’ve married and have a family of your own, splitting the bills and household chores can alleviate a lot of stress for the entire family.
Appreciation
Have you ever done something nice for someone and they didn’t even have the decency to say thank you?
If you have, then you know how it feels to be unappreciated. Even if you moved out years ago, continue to send Mother’s and Father’s Day cards to thank your parents for all they’ve done for you.
When you have your own family, don’t forget to tell your spouse and kids thank you for simple things, like taking out the garbage.
Forgiveness
There’s no quicker way to destroy familial relationships than holding grudges.
Sure, your dad may have taken off with his secretary when you were a little kid, or your sister may have stolen your boyfriend in ninth grade.
These types of things are hurtful, to say the least, but you still need to let them go eventually.
Forgiveness will not only potentially repair your familial relationships, but it also takes a burden off your own shoulders.
Final thoughts
Familial relationships are exactly what the word sounds like: relationships with your family.
While familial relationships are sometimes the most complicated types of relationship, they are nevertheless, important.
Fortunately, you can do your part to build, strengthen, and repair your familial bonds so that you and your family can enjoy healthy relationships with one another.
