Healthy Relationships… With Your Family and Other Adults
Families can be made up of many different relationships. There can be two parents, single parents, step parents, foster parents or adopted parents. Even extended family, like grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, may live together or close by. Some families have a parent or caregiver that stays home and looks after younger kids, while some families have parents or caregivers that work full-time.
There is no right or wrong way a family can be put together. The important factor is how everyone is getting along with each other. It is usually through your family relationships that you learn how to get along with others, form your view of yourself and understand what is appropriate behaviour.
ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION:
- Who are the adults in your family? In your life?
- What are the different ways you spend time together with your family?
FINDING A WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ADULTS IN YOUR LIFE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
All families face challenges as a normal part of life. Getting through these times requires respectful communication and care for each other. However, some families face signifi cant problems such as not having a place to live, having a parent going to court, coping with a parent’s long-term illness or parents who work away from home for long hours.
Parents, siblings and relatives will argue from time to time. Conflict is part of life, and so is making up. Talking about what happened, apologizing and stopping behavior that hurts others are important ways to heal relationships.
Some girls are able to talk more with the women or the men in their lives. Whoever you communicate with best, fi nding a way to share what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling with safe and trusted adults in your life is really important. One of the best ways to sort out a conflict or misunderstanding is by talking about it, sharing your view and listening to the other person’s side.
Unfortunately though, some families may experience violence during these times. If you feel or know that someone is getting hurt in your family, it’s important to tell someone that you can trust, such as a parent, guardian, teacher, Elder or a guidance counsellor.
REMEMBER, YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF YOUR LOVED ONES IS VERY IMPORTANT. HELP IS AVAILABLE.
Ask for help! You can call the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. For information about what to do about abuse in the family, you can visit the Government of Manitoba's Helps for Teens and Children website to learn more about resources that are available to you in Manitoba.
