Family Systems As Long-Term Units

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We are not short-term systems but longterm units

In my readings as I am beginning graduate school we have studied the theory about family systems. In my readings I read that one of the major assumptions states that families are goal-seeking systems (Smith & Hamon, 2023). Upon first reading this I totally agreed! "My family totally wrote and achieved goals growing up" I thought to myself. 

As I read on in the book, I began to learn about long versus short term goals. It clicked in my mind that families in and of themselves are long-term things. In their goal seeking nature, families are inherently a long term goal or happening. Wether someone has kids, gets a divorce, or stays together, there are still long-term consequences of the actions of getting married or having children that cannot be undone. You can plan who will be in your family, to a degree, but it also seems to just naturally flow without much over-planning and achieving (as with most goals). These miracles can yield great joys or deep sorrows. 

In the talk It Takes Two, from a Brigham Young Devotional, it discusses the beauty of parenting. It talks about how the whole is greater than the some of its parts (Erickson, n.d.). Each person in the family makes up the family unit. Together, they are stronger than alone. In this longterm quest of family, may it be remembered that we are not short-term systems (such as societal groups) but longterm units.  


Hannah 

Masters Degree Student in Marriage and Family Therapy


References: 

Erickson, (n.d.). It takes two. BYU Studies. https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/it-takes-two

Smith, S. R., & Hamon, R. R. (2021). Exploring family theories. Oxford University Press. 


Thanks for reading! I am open to discussion. My current purpose of writing these blogs is to have an outlet for my continued learnings and observations. I understand that I am still learning and would love any idea provoking thoughts to consider. Thank you! 



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