Family Relationships

If Thesaurus starts scouting for new synonyms to attach to the word ‘Family”, suitable potentials would be ‘Love’, ‘Hope’, ‘Happiness’ or ‘Support’. Society acknowledges the presence of a family when members are connected by marriage or birth. However, now with adoption gaining rapid momentum, blood is no more a determining factor for entry into a family. Healthy family relationships thrive under atmospheres immersed in love. We all need to escape from the mundane drudgeries of the outside world and the most reliable haven for that is home, inhabited by our treasured family. Family life tends to take a nasty turn when relationships abruptly corrode for no valid reason. Disagreements and silly extended quarrels deteriorate family relationships further. Careful introspection is essential to healing cracks that often appear in what was once a solid family foundation. Family members must take initiative to resolve issues and mend broken rapports. Some families function by strictly adhering to moral values, while many others sail smoothly with no reservations and absolute insouciance to societal norms! That being said, what happens inside the confines of a family household should remain inside. Let’s take a closer look into the nuances of family relationships and how strained family relationships can be improved upon.

 

We only cherish the love and warmth provided by a family when it’s missing. The best part of being in a family is that no matter what transpires, love truimphs under all circumstances and broken bonds can soon be rekindled. Whether the bond is between a mother and son, father and daughter, uncle and niece or baby and house pet, each should all be held in the highest of regards! A fairly large amount of time and effort has goes into molding a family relationship. Don’t let that go to waste!

 

What we often take for granted is that our family will stick to us through our darkest times, although a few exceptions do exist. No doubt, family and unconditional love go hand in hand, but this co-existence does not wipe out a few expectations. It is sensible to remind a loved one that we do love him/her infinitely and despise the mere thought of losing him/her, but not without expecting him/her to reciprocate the same. We ought to erase notions such as - “He’s my husband, of course he’ll pay for all this frivolous shopping!” Instead, buy him a gift to see that scintillating glint in his eyes. Moreover, don’t take your mother’s role for granted. Yes, she has been cooking your meals every day, but lending a helping hand wouldn’t hurt, would it? Express the affection and respect you hold for each of your family members and strive to strengthen family ties. It’s, undoubtedly, one of the best reasons to live!

 

Another surmounting dilemma endured by families is not finding quality time to spend with each other. Work tires people down and academics keep the kids highly occupied. Even when the spare hour arrives, they have tiny social obligations to fulfill. Time is absolutely against them when it comes to family bonding. The clock ticks away as months and years descend into the past, now all you can do is make up for all the time lost! Discarding your children, especially during their childhood days, can have disastrous repercussions on their mental health. They evolve as bitter individuals and see the world through a lens of pessimism. They lack compassion and create trouble for themselves, all because their parents didn’t bother putting aside time to show them the difference between right and wrong. Similarly, it is imperative to spend quality time with your spouse to circumvent possibilities of drifting. Don’t let the burning flames of passion fizzle out to culminate in infidelity or divorce.

 

Barriers to effective communication within families must be broken! Dismiss the popular adage that “Silence is Golden” because when it comes to families, it most certainly isn’t. Feelings must be expressed, views should be exchanged and love ought to be showered! Your kids might be petrified of you after being scolded for an act of mischief. However, do apologize and let them know how much you love them! Communicate just the way best friends do. Your family equates to your comfort zone. Parents need to be honest and share their innermost thoughts and feelings and expunge all resentment. Even spouses ought to keep their relationship afloat by constant heart-to-heart communication!

 

Never undermine the worth of the three most abused words. “I Love You” is a phrase that need not be compulsorily associated with romance. You inevitably possess endless love for your parents, siblings or children but are too afraid or shy to say it aloud. Yes, it might sound cheesy especially when you blurt it out unexpectedly. However, it will convey a beautiful message and ignite a bright glimmer of joy. More than anything else, you have to mean it when you say it! Family bonds grow stronger and unbreakable by invariable influx of these three magic words. You don’t have to sing Stevie Wonder’s classic – “I just called to say I love you” every time you dial them but piping in the three words once the conversation is over should not be the hardest task. If you are unable to choke out the words, you can still express love by performing amorous gestures. Cook your family a dinner, buy them presents or plan a family vacation. Just remember to always maintain love in the family equation.

 

It is not particularly impossible for unpleasant fireworks to spark up in a family household bearing in mind, the turbulence that presently pervades the world. Resilience is pertinent for families in the current society. We need to inculcate virtues such as loyalty and patience within our families. A fine level of sacrifice determines the sturdiness of a family foundation. Yes, we all make mistakes. We inflict pain upon our parents, siblings, kids, relatives at the risk of knowing they will forgive us. We endure bad spells and vent at those who we love the most, quite easily assuming that our family members, bearing the brunt of these ugly instances, ought to understand and manifest compassion. The ability to forgive under the worst of circumstances is what renders a family relationship oh-so-fantastic! Let fun and laughter dominate over the feuds and tiffs!

 

Remember at all times that not everybody is blessed with a family! Hence, cherish every moment spent with every member of your family, and try not to take your family for granted!