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eNEWSLETTER
September 2008

Our Mission Statement:
"Providing a range of innovative professional services, empowering our clients to positively address issues affecting their lives."

THE FAMILY UNIT; WHAT IS IT?

There is no one definition for the ‘family’ unit anymore, if you considered the traditional family of the past there would be a mother, a father and generally two children or more, including the extended family comprising of grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins. In pioneering times there wasn’t a limit on the number of children a family had, because of the labour intensive economy. In this age of technology and changing world views the family unit has changed dramatically.

Now we have single parents, blended families as well as extended families. The concept of the family has become complex and this month we decided to focus on why and how there has been a disintegration of the core ‘family unit’ as we once knew it.

WHAT HAS IT BECOME?

In an age of working parents it is disheartening to see that family time, is increasingly difficult to find. We are now faced with the prospect of children raising themselves. Parents are working longer hours regardless of their economic situation; this has altered the dynamics of what it means to have family time.
Increasingly both televisions and computers have become the new baby sitter and in this technological era children aren’t experiencing the benefits of quality family time.

We are all time poor; working, studying or trying to raise a family, it is important that there is consistency in the lives of the children but more importantly in our lives. It is important that all family members participate in a warm and loving environment. 

SIMPLE WAYS OF EXPERIENCING FAMILY TIME

For example there is a growing epidemic where people are forsaking the dining table to eat meals in front of the television set. If you are one of these people, you need to take a step back and ask yourself this fundamental question?

Have you forgotten how to communicate as a family?

This anti social behaviour is only reinforcing non communication to your children and in any personal relationships they develop in the future.

A simple step to resolve this issue is, rather than watching television as dinner is served, sit around a dining table or if that’s not possible sit together on the lounge with the television off and talk to each other about their day. This may sound mundane but it is instrumental in fostering social behavioural skills and these are essential in reinforcing the family unit. 

If you feel that communication is a problem in your family then feel free to contact us on (07) 3862 6622, we’d be only too happy to help.

Useful References

 

Until next time then...

“If the family were a fruit, it would be an orange, a circle of sections, held together but separable - each segment distinct.  ” - Letty Cottin Pogrebin

 

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