Let’s talk about family

The family is the basic building block of societies across the globe. The different types of family exist. There are nuclear families, extended families, one-parent families and families with adopted children.

Nuclear families are those which have a mother, a father and their children (biological or adopted). An ‘Extended family’ includes a larger network of relatives – grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. One-parent families are those where one of the parents is no longer part of the family unit, possibly due to death or divorce, leaving the remaining parent with the unenviable task of bringing up the children and trying to earn a living at the same time.

Families serve many functions. They provide a setting in which children can be born and reared. Families help educate their members. Parents teach their children values – what they think is important. They teach their children daily skills, such as how to ride a bicycle. They also teach them common practices and customs, such as respect for elders and celebrating holidays. The most important job for a family is to give emotional support and security.

Successful parents give their children plenty of love and patience, avoid quarrels and keep their feelings under control, always find time to spend with their children, hear them out and discuss their problems, never forget to praise their children when they deserve it. On the other hand it is not advisable for adults to make children feel low or ignored, to give promises and not to keep them, to loose their temper and shout at their kids, to punish their children severely.

Good children are prepared to compromise and meet their parents halfway, render any possible help to their parents, treat their parents in the way they would like to be treated themselves.

Strong, happy families spend time together. After dinner, for example, happy families may take walks together or play games. Strong families also talk about their problems and work together to solve them. Members of strong families show each other affection and appreciation. Members of strong families are also committed to one another.

Families give us a sense of belonging and a sense of tradition. Families give us strength and purpose. Our families show us who we are. The things we need most deeply in our lives – love, communication, respect and good relationships – have their beginnings in the family.

1. What is family for you?

Family is very important for me, because it gives me a sense of stability and tradition, a feeling of having support and understanding. I feel secure when there’s a family behind me. They are people I can trust and rely on, people who won’t let me down and who share my joys and sorrows. My parents are frank and honest with me, they treat me with respect without moralizing or bossing, and I in my turn learn how to treat other people and how to form relationship with my peers.

2. Are you on good terms with your parents and grandparents?

I am very happy to be on good terms with my parents. Because they are my best friends and always ready to listen to me and give advice. In my turn I am ready to compromise and meet my parents halfway, render any possible help to them.

You know, my parents and I are usually very busy during the weekdays and we seldom have a chance to spend time together. Sunday is the day when we can sit at a table and talk over everything that has happened during the week. Eating together makes us feel close and we often have our most useful conversations at these times. Almost every weekend we visit our grandparents, sometimes we visit my uncle (aunt) and his family.

Also once a week my parents give the flat a big clean. Of course I help them with it. By the way it’s not so boring. I turn on music and we even have fun. Then we may go shopping together. I like to go shopping with my parents because they always buy me something. During our shopping rounds we discuss a lot of things and make plans for the next weekend.

3. What will you ask your British friend about his/her family?

Have you got a big family?

Have you got any family traditions?

Do you like to spend your free time with your family?

4. What can you advise people who want to have a close and happy family?

I think we are old enough to realize that adults are not saints and may make mistakes and that the so-called generation gap should not spoil our relations. Good children are prepared to compromise and meet their parents halfway, render any possible help to their parents, treat their parents in the way they would like to be treated themselves.

So first of all I can advise for anyone to try to understand the feelings of your parents and show respect to them. Even if you don’t agree with their thinking, try to make them understand politely, don’t use harsh words with them which may hurt. It’s important to celebrate your parents’ and grandparents’ birthdays. It will make them realize that you care for them.

5. Nowadays an average family has one child. From your point of view, how many children should there be in a family?

It’s sad that families are getting smaller these days. I think it’s so great to have a sister or a brother. To my mind there should be two or three children in a family. You will never feel lonely in a big family. These are people who are committed to one another.

Date: 2015-01-29; view: 2647