Changes in the Family

FAMILY RELATIONS 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

01
Changes in the Family

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Jocelynn Linton

Family. What is family? Traditionally, a family is defined as a married man and woman and their children. However, in recent years the worldly views on family have shifted drastically. Having both parents in the home is becoming increasingly less common, divorce rates are on the rise, and an alarming amount of people are advocating for the complete deconstruction of the family structure.

All of these changes have been proven to have adverse and lasting effects on the children being reared in these less than ideal conditions. While children from all different types of family backgrounds have the potential to succeed, studies have shown that a child raised in an intact biological family, or IBF, have better mental health, form better relationships, and a much higher level of perceived safety and security in the home ("New Family").

It goes without saying that where you come from does not determine who you can or cannot be. Something my Dad’s mother used to always say was, “Who you are is your parent’s fault. If you stay that way, it’s yours.” This however, does not discredit the facts. My mother is one of the most dedicated, selfless, and loving individuals that I have ever met. Nevertheless, she often recounts to me the struggles of growing up in a single parent household. In my mother’s words, “The worst part was that I could not have my mom take care of me on a daily basis because she worked full time and went to school so she could provide for us. My mom left for work before I woke up and would come home after I retired.  Her schedule would not allow for her to read me books or play with me. I feel that had she been around on a daily basis, I would have had a better education and more accountability for my choices. The negativity that could have come from it, helped me to be more intentional about being on my children’s Crossroads, spending time  nurturing, reading and being with them…It took her ten years to graduate from college and when I was 11 and she did not longer had to go to school however, she still would not come home before 7 or 8 PM due high work demands that came with more education a s promotions.”

My mother is not alone in these experiences. Many other children around the world are brought up in similar circumstances.

Let’s look at it from the other side of things. As my mother mentioned above, because of her experiences, she did her very best to be there for us. My mom was my number one cheerleader, and has always done her best to work in tandem with my father to provide us with the upbringing she never had. My childhood is a stark contrast from the life my mother lived growing up. Because my father was our families primary provider, this freed up time for my mother to be present.

The example I just shared with you happens to deal with one parent upbringing. However many children who are raised in households with same-sex parents also experience different outcome because of their parent’s sexuality. Simply because there is not the stability that comes from having two parents of the opposite sex.

I am in no way discounting the effort each and every caring parent puts into raising their children no matter the difficult circumstances. Instead, I am merely restating the research that has been conducted on the effects of non intact families.

Sources:

"New Family Structures Research and the 'No Differences' Claim." Family Structure Studies, 

     Witherspoon Institute, familystructurestudies.com/outcomes/. Accessed 25 Sept. 202