Armenian Family

Making a family is the most important thing in most cultures. Families can be big or small, young or old. Around the world the families can eat, dress and work differently, but all are united to take responsibility to care for their kin. Armenian families are not an exception. An average traditional Armenian house is composed of, a man and a woman. The man assumes leadership and major responsibilities, and is known to be the sole decision maker. The woman’s responsibility is assumed as the cook, housekeeper, dutiful wife, and mother who raise the children. These responsibilities are reserved for females, even though they may work outside the home.
The kitchen is the "territory" of the Armenian women and one dares cross the boundary, and especially not during cooking. When the man comes home from work, the dinner must be at the table. The Armenian man is an excellent food critic, so he thinks. They are very critical, as the food never measures up to that of their mothers, but in their eyes, they are offering constructive criticism. One thing that saves the Armenian woman from food preparation errors is that the recipes are "full proof", as they have been handed down generations after generations, from grandmothers and great, great grandmothers and on.
One of the delights in a day of the Armenian woman is Armenian coffee, otherwise known as Turkish coffee. It is a daily ritual for them; they may drink it several times a day. After drinking, it is traditional to put the plate on top of the cup; they agitate the cup a couple of times and make a wish, then turn the cup upside down onto the plate. This ritual has been taught to the family members from grandparents, who would then read the coffee grinds, which they believed told their fortunes. Younger Armenian girls look forward to this portion of the coffee drinking, as they are very interested to know when their Prince Charming will show up. The older women on the other hand, are very interested to know when the money will show up. These moments always leave room for lots of humor.
In Armenian families, it is a standard to have children. Average 2 or 3 children are in the home. Children are the center of attention, and are traditionally raised by their mothers, but grandmothers and aunts also help raise the children. When the first child is born, it is often named after either the maternal or paternal grandparents.
Armenian families are known to be very strongly united. The word "divorce" is not one that is appreciated or respected, as the mentality is to be married for life. I remember when I was married; my father said to me,” In our family we don’t know the word "divorce", if you choose your husband once, it is forever". It was a good advice from my father to me.
In our culture we have a big respect for man’s elderly parents’ .However they live together with parents and take care of them and their health.
Also Armenians like invited guests for an evening dinner, or call to invite themselves for coffee to spend together time.
For me family is big support, because you can to rely in a difficult situation, and you know they can help in a different time.