As fall term comes to a close and everyone gets ready to go back home we must prepare ourselves for what is to come … family time. Many people love going home during whatever breaks they can to enjoy some quality time with their family, while others may only be excited to see their pets.
Although we grew up with these people, as many of us moved away from various places around the country and living in Oregon may have changed our mindsets about various issues. Every time we go back home, no matter where to, so many things seem to have changed.
Freshman Jenni Hooper loves listening to stories from different family members when she goes home for breaks. “My cousins just moved here from Egypt this last year and so having them here is a lot different,” Hooper said. “We are always just goofy with each other, like on Thanksgiving we decided to make our own little kids table.”
In just the span of one term each of us has grown immensely and so have our friends and family. Aunts and uncles have started smoking pot, cousins are having babies and somehow our siblings are always doing something better than we are.
No matter what happens when you visit family it somehow almost always turns into a big fiasco. Little conversations often turn into big debates, which can lead to stern arguments and then awkward silence. Maybe somebody says a curse word too loud in front of grandma or has too much to drink. Just last week on Thanksgiving, my family watched as one of my aunts started to go off the deep end slurring her words and stumbling around. It was truly a sight to see.
Some families consist of loud, rambunctious extroverts and never experience a dull (or quiet) moment during the holidays and other family gatherings. Parents have planned out so many events and activities that it is often hard to squeeze in some alone time. Other families have the complete opposite problem where everyone is on the quieter side and have to make an effort to all get together for some quality time.
Biology major Andy Siemens is one of the louder members of his family and enjoys bringing laughter to family gatherings. “I love to joke around with my family, I guess I am like the jokester of the house,” Siemens said, “They are all way soft spoken, even during the Duck game last week I almost felt shameful to even clap.”
Sometimes the drama can even come from a family member who is not even in attendance simply because they made the choice not to show up. As our siblings and cousins get older many of them decide to join with another family and often have to split the holidays between different households.
Hectic days with family may seem like a burden at times, but in the end these are some of the moments that we are going to look back on and appreciate. As we grow older and begin to start our own families we will be able to share memories of our past experiences.
Junior Emily Lauder always gets excited to go home for family gatherings because she doesn’t get to connect with her extended family too often. “Most of my family is very loud and very crazy, but my uncle is really weird,” Lauder said, “He’ll just say super offensive comments and you kind of just brush them off.”
There are always going to be those difficult relatives that no one really wants to deal with, but maybe this winter break you will be the one to step up. No matter how negative or judgmental your great uncle might be, show him a little love and understanding. If he doesn’t appreciate it then at least you tried and you can walk away knowing that next holiday season it is someone else’s turn to try and schmooze him.
Follow Tanner Owens on Twitter @T_Owens21