My extended family includes my mother, two sisters and their families, my husband's parents, five brothers and their families. My daughters have four uncles, five aunts and twelve cousins living in California. An extended family, if you are lucky enough to have one, usually shares many values and is willing to help see that these values are passed on to the children.

Some of the values my family holds in common include a strong work ethic, respect for other people, the value of education and modesty in dress and action. My father-in-law is a great example. He has had two careers and is still working. He retired after 20 years with the Air Force, earned a Master's Degree in education, taught school and w

There are several advantages for us, as parents, to maintaining close family relationships. There are the obvious advantages of built-in babysitters and people to ask for advice. Less obvious advantages include reinforcement, edification, perspective and a wide pool of life examples.

My daughters are very lucky to have four uncles who live nearby. They are all very different; some are serious, some are fun-loving and like to joke around. Girls form their ideas about men from the examples they have around them. My daughters have examples of men who are hardworking, educated, loving and committed to their families. My husband's brothers' favorite pastime is to watch sports on TV and argue about the details of the game. When we all get together, especially during football season, all five (including Papa) sit around watching whatever game is on. They love to start arguing about a call or strategy. They will all stand together shouting, good naturedly, their views about the issue at hand. The little kids like to get in the middle and join in. They don't really hear most of what the others are saying and never come to a resolution. That's not the point anyway. They just love to spend the time together. We women love to watch, and laugh at, the interaction.

There are also lots of cousins, some of whom they like and some they don't. However, they learn from interacting with them. They learn how to relate to people of all ages (the cousins range in age from 17 years to newborn). The older cousins like to go off together and talk. There is something special about talking to people they have known all their lives and with whom they share family ties. It is like having a larger group of siblings without the rivalry. One of the aunts started what she calls the "Double Digit Club." When a child reaches the age of 10, all the "Double Digits" get to have a slumber party at her house. All the children look forward to that magic age when they get to be a "big kid."

These kinds of ties will be valuable, as the grandchildren get older. At some point, they will be left only with each other and their families. The grandparents will die and we children will be the grandparents. We will help our children pass along to their children the values and standards we have passed to them. We will spoil our grandchildren and yet, not undermine the parents. We will give them undivided attention and our love and acceptance will be unconditional. We will give advice and ask advice. We will continue to be the extended family, the "village" to raise the child.

Our extended family members share our standards and values and reinforce the lessons and rules we set for our children. My mother-in-law has a great sense of fashion. She has helped my daughters develop good judgment about dress and make

Some common words found in the essay are:
Center Theater, God Porcelain, Importance Family, Double Digits, Master Teacher, Master's Degree, Digit Club, extended family, Air Force, spoil grandchildren undermine, extended family village, village raise child, families husband's, family village, love acceptance, undivided attention, love acceptance unconditional, acceptance unconditional, grandchildren undermine parents, undermine parents, values passed, children values, wider experience,
Approximate Word count = 1879
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)