The
family is often the first place and the best place where
conflicting social realities (i.e.: the balance between
different interests) can be learnt. At the same time, because
of the loving relationships between the members of the family,
mistakes can be made and will be forgiven. Within the family, discipline
can be
imposed with love and understanding, allowing for forgiveness
and true compassion.
All
of the above will contribute to transforming children into
adolescents and then into responsible adult members of society.
For
example, the family is
-
the place where language is developed and the
power of self-expression is cultivated,
-
the birthplace of creativity,
fostered by loving parents,
-
the place
where human relationships can be understood and cultivated,
-
the
place where the value of money, economic limitations and opportunities
can be learnt,
-
the place where children
learn to identify, evaluate and manage the positive and negative aspects
of every decision,
-
the
place where adolescents learn responsibility and
accountability,
-
the place where children learn the short term
value of selfish interests and the long term value of honesty,
integrity, consistency, perseverance and true love.
The
family is also the best "safety net" (a shelter in the
time of storm). The members of the extended family will be more
likely to extend credit in a time of need to someone they
intimately know and trust. Conversely, they are also more likely
to refuse that credit and induce a change in behaviour when a
family member is drawn into addictive or self-destructive
behaviour.
Finally,
the
family is also a training ground for parents, who themselves
mature and acquire more responsibility when required by natural
instinct, religion, tradition and society, to care for their
offspring.
