Family Roles

 Family Roles

All families have roles that evolve from within the family regarding its members. The role I played in my family was “the dumb one.” My parents believed this so strongly that when I said I wanted to quit high school at 16, they initially said it was fine. I have no idea what changed their minds, but they did make me continue school and I did graduate.

Getting past this family role has been enormously challenging and took decades to overcome and grow past. I wanted my granddaughters to be aware of this because a parent's and grandparent’s history IS a part of a child’s history. At 76 and a half, I now look back and realize that I now use my own struggle to help clients in my work. When they share the pain they suffered in their families, I believe them and can easily empathize with them. Now I realize my struggle has the ability to help others, so I decided to share my journey.