Family and Tradition: Learning From Your Elders

Your family history is important to you and your loved ones, and who knows it better than your elderly relatives? Stories that they might have told you when you were younger were actually lived by these elderly relatives. To many people, tracking their ancestry on different websites and recording their family lore is more than a passion and a hobby, it's a way of feeling connected with those who came before you.

If you have an elderly relative and you want to know more about your family and its history, it's important to start the process now. The time you have left with your loved ones is not infinite, and there is no telling when an emergency or tragedy might occur and they are no longer able to communicate their stories with you. By having an open and constant dialogue open with your elderly parents or grandparents, you can fill in the gaps in your family's history and make new memories and stories in the meantime.

Many families are blessed to have family records already established. But the majority of people interested in their ancestry have to start from scratch. By taking advantage of the resources you have already available-namely your elderly relatives-you are going to give yourself a jump start.

By spending time with an older relative, you are not only going to enhance your understanding of your family's history, but you will also make them a bit happier. People love when you take an interest in them and your elderly loved ones are no different. Just because they might not be able to do the same things that they used to does not mean that they don't want to spend time with their families. By having a healthy talking and face to face relationship with them, you are going to make their lives much more enjoyable.

If your loved one is no longer living at home, you should make it a point to visit them on a regular basis in their assisted living facility or nursing home. You can make some of your visits purely business by discussing family history, but make sure that you don't monopolize your time together with this subject. Make it a point to sometimes just spend time with them and be there loving them. This is so important because many times, elderly folk will feel ignored, especially if they have moved out of their old house. An assisted living facility might be a great place to live, but it will never be the same as the old home. By visiting, you are making the transition to senior care living much easier and enjoyable. Remember, you love your family. Spending time and learning from your elders is an important part of being a complete family.