As the epidemic of family estrangement continues, are we anywhere nearer answering the question, why?
In my view families have been devalued over decades, it is no longer the case for many, that when families need advice or help they turn to family. A new parent will now consult with Google, to tell them all there is to know about parenting,or ask on social media.
In the past it would be a quick call or popping round to ask a family member.
Does family matter?
Family is the reason we are all here, it is the foundation we all need to build a secure base to enable us to grow and thrive. It is the bedrock of society once we remove the bricks the structure becomes unstable until it finally loses all its strength and crumbles.
Family helps us get through the good times and the bad times, they love us unconditionally and accept us for who we are.
We all need to feel loved and cared for, especially children, family should be their secure place, a feeling of belonging is part of their identity.
A positive healthy family builds self esteem and enables children to grow and experience life in the knowledge that if things go wrong they have a loving family they can turn to.
Our first introduction to the world is with family, they teach us the skills needed to lead our lives to the full, they teach us how to communicate with others, to share our feelings, the skills we need to grow into what can be a confusing world.
Family is our first teacher.
As we grow older, our family may not always be present in our lives, but their teachings remain with us forever, a constant resource for us to call upon. Our very own personal Google!
In a world that feels so insecure, family should be a constant in our lives. To feel secure is a fundamental human need, we can face most situations if we feel secure and to know we are not alone.
Just in the UK alone, there are millions of children denied that need for a happy, healthy family life, millions of children who are facing their foundations crumbling, a situation where they have no control.
Unjustified family estrangement is not a family law issue, it is a public health issue, here in the UK and globally.
Society is broken as a result and we have to build up the value of family for the sake of children, through education, so that they are part of a loving and healthy family and they in turn can provide the foundations of a better society.
