by Ian Moone

Created on: October 05, 2010

How would you best describe a family? Is it a group of people related by blood or individuals who care about each other and wouldn't do anything that could hurt each other? Which one do you believe in? Since they are the cores of today's societies, it’s rather important to understand what people mean by it. So, let’s try to analyze the word in its different meanings and the importance it once had and how it's considered today.

In ancient times, like today, families were the hearts of the society. They differed, depending on the culture and the period, but one factor they all had in common was the importance of the inheritance of the Father. The Father was always the head. In most of them, it consisted of a man, who could have more than one wives. The children were considered very important, the future of the family name. In ancient Roman even the slaves were considered to be part of the family.   

Today, Nuclear families have changed in a drastic manner. Traditionally, it consisted of the Father (who is the head) and the Mother (who are married), and the children. But today, a nuclear family isn't necessarily composed of both parents and the children. There are the parents who are not married, the single Mother or Father with children and gay couples with kids. A perfect picture of a modern family can be seen on the ABC show "Modern Family”. The economic role of nuclear family has gradually diminished because of the high percentage of divorced couples.

While nuclear families are evolving and loosing little by little their importance, Extended families on the other hand, have lost little or nothing. An Extended family is an egocentric network of relatives that extends beyond the domestic group, mostly consisting of nuclear families who may relate to each other or by blood or by conjugal union. In some situation, they provide a solid economic support to the nuclear families when needed. Grand parents are of a vital importance, they represent the head and the grand children the tail.

I personally see a family to be a sacred entity formed by people who care about each other work together for the well being of everyone, especially the children. The first place, where the children to learn to respect, love and help others. What makes a better family is the love and respect that runs through it. The parents need to be good examples and role models to their kids. That’s my definition of a family.

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