Family Tree by Sara Salway

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Throughout the reading of the story the main theme outlines as being the unshared parents – children love and weak family bonds.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree says an old saying, which means that the children should have close affectionate bonds to their parents. But Sara Salway shows a new face of what a family can be, a selfish tree which didn't want its apples in the first place, and gradually dried out its own branches so this would “stay” away.

Words: 519

3. Discussion about how a family should deal with conflicts.

One of the explanations of the word conflict is a discord of action, a feeling or effect; antagonism or opposition, as of interests or principles[1], thus bringing stress and negative feelings between the persons involved. But it can also mean a state of mind in which a person experiences a clash of opposing feelings or needs[2], such as Annie´s from ”Family Tree”[3].

Dealing with conflicts in family is especially difficult, as one has to choose the words very carefully because, in the heat of the moment, hurting the other´s feelings is very easy.

On one hand, the best way to solve a conflict is through collaboration, according to Kory Floyd, a specialist in interpersonal communication[4], although it requires input of time from the persons involved to work through the difficulties and find an agreeable solution to the problem for all.

On the other hand through compromise or negotiation it takes less time to find a middle way, but both parties need to give up something.

In my opinion when conflicts arise in a family to find agreeable solutions requires patience and understanding. A happy family is not a family without conflicts, but one which solves its conflicts amiably, listening to each others needs and not being selfish. A family is not competing with each other, but working together as a team.

Words: 221

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