Why Your Family Needs a Family Reunion

Reunion is a homecoming after a separation and this is more true now than ever.

Last year, my husband family was suppose to have their 5 year family reunion, but due to Covid it was postponed.  Not knowing when we would all connect again, we were notified about 1 month ago it was a go again in the early part of Aug.

In the past, every 5 years we would see new additions to families, young ones turning into teenagers, and teens moving into post secondary education or married and  starting a family of their own.  There were also family members that had come upon hardship, sickness and loss.  This reunion will be different from all the other reunions this year with the pre, and post affects of Covid with  additional issues such as  isolation, masking, vaccinations and hopefully not divisions within families.

It’s not uncommon for families to spread out across the country. New job opportunities or exciting adventures pull people into different cities and states. Over time, a family might rely on video calls and holiday cards for updates on their once-close cousins, aunts, and siblings.

But a family reunion can change all of that. They can bring relatives together who may not have seen each other for several years and help new family members feel welcome. From a simple afternoon get-together to a weeklong getaway, these events are important.

Help Your Kids Understand Family reunions can connect the next generation to their past. From kids hearing stories about the family history and trying recipes that have been passed down over the years, family reunions help kids form identities about who they are. Even hearing funny stories about their parents getting into trouble as teenagers can provide kids with a sense of belonging and connection with their immediate family members. Your children will know who they are because of their family members.

Get Back in Touch with Relatives

Whether you fell out of touch with your relatives because they moved away or because life got in the way, a family reunion is a great place to catch up with those you love and miss. Families can play volleyball by the beach or relax by the pool and enjoy some much-needed time together. Some families even spend hours telling stories and filling in gaps in time.

Where They Come From

We all wish we could keep in touch throughout the year, but it’s not always possible. Family reunions allow you to set aside time to check in with people you love.

Spend Time with Aging Relatives 

Time is precious, and a family reunion can bring people from across the country together to share their time for a few more hours. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren can get to know their grandparents and older aunts and uncles. Older relatives can meet new significant others of younger relatives. Everyone can share how much they love each other and mean to each other.

Family reunions are meant to be fun – but they are also an important time to set aside the stress of life and focus on family.

Create New Memories to Bring Everyone Together
One of the best parts of a family reunion is being able to create new memories along with celebrating old ones. Families can leave the reunion with funny stories, breathtaking adventures with cousins, and fond memories with older relatives. This allows you to look forward to the next event when everyone comes together.

I’m sure each one of us at the reunion will see each other differently.  I imagine that I will experience connecting to each one of them as we connect through our eyes and souls as  more  from a place of longing, missing, compassion, love like after a world war rather than from how we greeted each other in the past.  I can’t wait to see my tribe.