Dear Gwendolyn:
I am a person who likes to try and keep the family together. Last year we were supposed to have our reunion. My niece who lives in New York was getting it together. But she informed me that when she said “money,” they were not interested. Therefore, she canceled it.
Gwendolyn, every family should have a family reunion because most of the young children don’t know all of their relatives. That’s how it is easy for one kin to marry another kin.
That’s sad, but true. I am planning on trying to do it this year for one day. Some family members want 2 or 3 days. I believe some are not coming because they don’t like each other.
You know…children go out to play. They have a little spat. The next minute they are back playing again. Grown folk get hot at each other and it lasts for years. Most of the time they don’t know what they are angry about. – Help me with my problem because it’s hard getting relatives together.
Sarah
Dear Sarah:
If for some reason you cannot get 80 percent participation, go ahead with the 20 percent who are interested. Instead of renting a hotel ballroom, go ‘back-in-the-day’ potluck style. Have reunion at a family member with the largest house. Put together a family tree beginning with descendants as far back as you can recall. Tell all family members to submit a picture of their family including the name of each. When you plan the reunion, have activities for the young generation. Let a portion of the program to focus on education and careers. After all, the opportunities that are now afforded to them were not afforded to their great-great-great grandpa and grandma. A reunion should be more than just Big Momma going around hugging, kissing, and pulling on the jaws of babies.
Sarah, let me tell you this: For those family members who are still angry for whatever reason, plan the reunion without them. Don’t beg them to attend and don’t cancel the gathering. Think about it. When a branch falls from a tree, the remainder of that tree – continues to grow.
***Got a problem? Don’t solve it alone. Write to Gwendolyn Baines at: P. O. Box 10066, Raleigh, NC 27605-0066 (to receive a reply, send a self-addressed stamped envelope) or email her at: gwenbaines@hotmail.com or visit her website at: www.gwenbaines.com