Embracing Family
Published Monday, September 20, 2021
Hospital Staff Feature: Dr. Michael Scott (Intensivist, Anesthesiologist, Director of Critical Care) and his daughter Kelly Scott (Registered Nurse, 3A) find time in their busy work schedules to spend quality family time together outside of the hospital. No matter what season it is, they find the time to get outside and enjoy activities to keep them active and their minds feeling refreshed. During the summer months, you can find Mike, Kelly, and their dogs out hiking through trails around Thunder Bay or spending time at Shebandowan Lake testing out their skill level, with different water sports. In the winter months, they can be found shredding the slopes of ski hills near and far.
By Madeline Fabiano, Prevention and Screening Clinical Services
Whether living together or apart, family plays an important role in our lives and can help us to maintain our wellbeing and to stay positive. Spending time with family may involve family dinners, exercising together, going shopping, watching a movie together or even connecting through a video call. Life can be busy and full of other commitments but reconnecting with family can help you to reconnect with yourself, your culture and reflect on what matters most in life.
Family relationships cannot be replaced and therefore, it is important to create strong bonds with family members. There are various unique ways that our family members can support one another, including emotionally, financially, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.
Here are a few ways to help build strong family relationships:
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Choose quality over quantity. Set aside time to stay involved in each other’s lives by creating fun memories together, sharing stories, or having a phone call to catch up. Regardless of your family’s location, taking a few moments out of your day to reconnect with those you love the most call help to create stronger familial bonds and better relationships.
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Maintain good communication. Open communication is essential for each family member to be able to express their needs, wants, feelings and opinions. Communication is essential for preserving healthy relationships. As your relatives mature, and schedules get busier, it can become more difficult to plan activities that work for everyone. Make sure you set aside time to communicate with family members as proper communication is essential for emergency situations and is required in order to help support one another.
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Acknowledge and celebrate each other’s talents, strengths and weaknesses. Each family member is unique and while you may not always see eye to eye, it is important to show admiration and acknowledge each other’s achievements and efforts. Even if you are not on the best terms with a family member, kind gestures such as helping them complete a task or wishing them a happy birthday, can create a positive environment.
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Appreciate everyone in the family. You can’t always choose your family, but you can respect one another, show compassion, and remind each person that they belong, regardless of their shortcomings. Participating in an activity that a family member enjoys, watching them perform or competing in an event, or asking them about their hobbies and interests will help develop a stronger bond and allow you to get to know them better.