6 Family Values You Uphold Forever

Now that we’ve answered “What are family values?” and just why they’re important, what are the top values that you need to understand, cherish and uphold all your life? While the list can be long, we have chosen 10 family values – from the very basic to the very profound – that essentially define your personality in a way few other things can. let’s take a look at the good family values that make sure every Thanksgiving you spend with each other won’t be a complete disaster.

# Respecting elders

It might sound strange especially for a society as diverse as that of the US or the UK but traditional Christian values of respecting elders are still ranked high among the list of top 10 family values. A conventional family consists of a man, woman, children, and grandparents, and loving and respecting your elders is expected out of children.

Of course, youngsters have a very strong voice and there always will be the traditional values vs modern values battle fought in every household. However, at the very basic level, disrespecting or arguing with elders is frowned upon.

# Having good etiquettes

In a study conducted in the UK among 2000 families a few years ago, it was found that despite modern family values taking over, some old-fashioned morals and teachings were still considered valuable. For instance, surprisingly around 76% of those surveyed said that having good table manners topped their family values.

“Nobody wants to see a child picking through a roast chicken dinner with their fingers or talking with their mouths full,” said the study. Table manners and etiquettes might seem a trivial thing but in families where they are insisted upon, it shows a certain level of discipline and politeness.

# Spending Christmas and other festivals together

If ever there was a vote held among people to rank their top 10 family values in life, spending Christmas together would undoubtedly be number 1. Whatever be your equation with your family, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and a few other festivals are the occasions to forgive, forget and come together.

This is also the reason why Christmas means offices and streets are empty as everyone dashes to their families to spend the festive season in love and joy. Simple traditions like roasting Turkey, cutting the cake, decorating the tree, exchanging gifts, etc have remained the same since time immemorial.

# Splitting chores

Those who give importance to family ethics are also those who believe in principles like giving respect, working hard, being honest. These values are reflected in day-to-day activities like splitting chores between the husband and wife. In most homes, you can see that the family members are expected to chip in with the household chores.

So if dad clears the table, mom does the dishes and the kids make the bed. The objective here is to make every person take up some responsibility and become independent enough to take care of their own needs. Dealing with a husband who doesn’t do chores needs to be addressed as soon as possible since it might have a negative effect on the children.

# Giving to charity

Your sense of charity or inclination to take part in volunteering activities often reflects the family values that have been passed down to generations. Volunteering or giving to charity is a way to show that you care about society and believe in giving back to it.

Volunteering can take any form, either by being part of groups or being part of an animal shelter, or even working for the local church. It would be even better if you work together with your family on a project. These activities do not just foster a sense of togetherness, they help in creating a great bond between the members. More importantly, it makes you feel good about yourself and helps you connect with like-minded people.

# Being loyal

When there is family, there are bound to be conflicts too. There might be differences of opinion, resentments, arguments, and petty squabbles. But what matters is that in the overall picture, you are loyal to the entire institution and practice healthy conflict resolution techniques.

If your family is under attack from an external force, strong family values will prevent you from leaving your near and dear ones alone even if they are not so dear to you at that moment. There is a reason why they say ‘blood is thicker than water’. Loyalty is also defined in personal relationships like marriage.