The family is the most basic unit of any society. Without healthy, functioning families, a culture cannot survive. Family is where our roots take hold and from there we grow. We are molded within a unit, which prepares us for what we will experience in the world and how we react to those experiences. We are products of the environment we came from.
A close family bond is like a safe harbor where we find refuge. From trusting that someone will pick us up when we fall, as a toddler, to someone being there for us as we experience the storms in life – family bonds help to instill trust and hope in the world around us and belief in ourselves. Rituals of bedtime stories, hugs, holidays and daily meals shared together, provide a sense of warmth, structure and safety. These rituals and traditions, not only create memories and leave a family legacy, but create our first path in life – one that is positive.
If a child grows up in an environment where family bond and values are unhealthy he may believe it is normal. That child will develop poor self-image, isolating himself from peers at school or holding anger and pain inside. This not only affects his emotional well-being, but also physical well-being. The poor self-image may be with him throughout life, causing an inability to make positive choices or be close to others.
When we don’t have the security and influence of strong family bonds early in life, the ground work is laid for an emptiness that is often sought to be filled, through destructive venues. If one isn’t loved as a child, they may later seek love and acceptance in a way that brings them harm.
Don’t take the value of family bonds for granted. You can mold a beautiful creation for today and the generations that follow!
