Broken Families

Every family is broken.....in some way. This is due to the dysfunctional nature of the human race.

No one's perfect therefore no one escapes some kind of emotional / psychological damage during their lifetime. It's a myth that there exists an "unbroken" family.

Governments love to report statistics; the latest one being that 1 in 5 families in the UK are broken ones.

Apparently the Asian sub-continent has the highest rate of "success" for unbroken families.....I beg to differ....two parents that choose to stay together is no testimony to the strength of the family bond. And I should know - my parents are still together (unhappily wed) for 48 years!

It's unfair to make comparisons between the developed and undeveloped worlds. Families in poorer socieites usually stay together through a lack of choice and opportunity. Abuse and exploitation is rife and, bereft of social welfare, families must indeed stick together.

Families in the developed world are no doubt spiritually poorer as the acquisition of material comforts deals a blow to family unity. However, living democratically means that you don't have to suffer in silence and you are free to express your dissension. This is not the case in many parts of the world where freedom of speech carries with it the threat of ostracism or worse.

I believe in the power of family - a place of warmth and safety....too often it is not. The painful memory of emotional neglect / physical abuse that family members endure can remain with them for a lifetime.

Mental scars heal less easily. Cruel words uttered in rage resonate within and ravage many a soft heart.

Abusive behaviour is repeated from one generation to another.

Move over darling!

Let every family break....so that it can be re-made. Families (particularly parents) require support and guidance not condemnation and statistics. One parent is as good as two. We need to refresh and revive the family with love and understanding and forget the biology!