Family of Origin: The Apple Doesn't Fall Too Far From the Family Tree by Jonathan Oliver

Why do I do the things that I do? It’s likely because the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. I had a conversation with my therapist once and it was centered on the concept of family of origin. Family of origin is another term for family tree that encompasses reflecting on your relationships with certain relatives that have impacted your life in various ways. It is about looking in the mirror and seeing who was integral to shaping your life and the person you have become. As you can imagine, that can turn into a heavy conversation and reflection depending on your experiences.

But, back to my therapist. As our conversation on said topic was coming to a close, I made the statement, “Family of origin is no joke,” and my therapist chuckled. Needless to say, family of origin is no laughing matter sometimes. There are certain parts of my family and characteristics of my parents that are enduring and that I embrace. But there is a dark and grimy side to my family of origin at times.

Our daughters, Journey and Justice, will inherit both wonderful and not-so-wonderful traits from their mother and father, but that all goes into the amazingly humbling task of parenting. And I look forward to seeing the finished product.

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