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The ideal family can be defined as a unit that provides love, support, and stability to its members. It is a family where each member feels valued, respected, and understood. An ideal family fosters a positive environment for growth, learning, and emotional well-being. An ideal family is a composition of a kind father, an affectionate mother and sympathetic children.

In an ideal family, family members are encouraged to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. The partners are expected to show love, be committed, trust and to understand each other, and also communicate effectively. It may interest you to know that while I was facilitating a class of graduating entrepreneurs last week, the issue of an ideal marriage came up and interestingly, l learned that most people don’t marry anymore because of love. l was told that many couples these days don’t marry because they love each other but rather because of economic stability, and strategic connections (political). l was surprised to hear it however; l am of the school of thought that believes that marriage cannot work without an atom of love. The couple would not be able to co-exist or tolerate each other. I believe that it takes love for two people from different family backgrounds, to live together in harmony, support each other, be committed to each other and also be ready to forgive. The Bible tells us that only God is perfect so, it means that we all have our faults, shortcomings and what have you, but with love, we can overcome all of that and more.

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The family starts usually with two people (husband and wife) and gradually increases as the children are born, to three, four, or five, and even more as the case may be and as God Wills. As the children start coming into the family, a lot is expected from the couple to make that family an ideal one.  It is not an easy task but if the parties are patient, honest and willing to work together, they will succeed. Everyone has to be involved, the father, mother and children alike. The parent has to be in unity when it comes to bringing up the children and also in disciplining them. They must respect each other, be ready to compromise and give constructive criticism. With the present economic situation all over the world, the couple must be ready to support each other financially and emotionally. Be attentive to what is happening in the home and more importantly, listen to each other and their children as well.   

We are in the technology age where majority of the people particularly the young generation (Gen-Z) allow technology to rule their lives without making any effort to cross-check the information being pushed out every second. Given this situation, l would advise that parents create time to bond with their children. It could be over dinner or lunch but the point is that this time must be created to enable family interaction and valid questions and answers from all the parties. Families must institute family cultures and values that would help to guide their behaviours and attitudes within the home and their environment. If this is enshrined, members of the family can comfortably vouch for each other and make bold to defend each other anywhere and anytime.

In conclusion, in an ideal family, members should be willing to share ideas that will benefit each other and the entire family. They should be honest and understanding with each other and ensure that they are united in love. Remember, that a family makes a home, and an ideal home/ family is a place where members of the family are open to each other and communicate effectively.

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Beatrice Egbuna is an experienced Broadcast Technologist with a strong background in managing broadcast equipment and sound technology. She has played a leading role in building and installing various radio studios, as well as maintaining and repairing both analogue and digital equipment at Voice of Nigeria (VON) studios. Egbuna holds a degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Lagos State University (LASU), and has received training in Audio Engineering from the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. She also holds certificates in Senior Management Programmes from the Lagos Business School (LBS) and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), as well as a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU). Prior to joining EDC in 2011, Beatrice worked in various capacities at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and VON before retiring in 2010 as Deputy Director Programming. She has also worked as a Consultant/Mentor on projects like "Road-to-Growth" powered by Cherie Blair Foundation and Access Bank Plc. Egbuna produced and presented "Enterprise Stories", a live radio program on Inspiration 92.3 FM, which brings entrepreneurs together every Tuesday at 3 pm to share their success stories and inspire startup developers to follow their dreams. She also produced "The Economy and You," a program that aired for about four years on Rhythm 93.7 FM, which brought policymakers, technocrats and successful business executives to discuss government policies and their impact on the economy and businesses in Nigeria. Currently, Beatrice Egbuna is the Principal Consultant at Maluwe Capacity Builders International, Nigeria, where she provides real-time feedback and actionable advice that adds value to her clients. She is also a mentor and faculty member at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University, and a BDSP Consultant on the 5-year (20??-20??) MASTERCARD TRANSFORMING NIGERIA YOUTH PROJECT (TNY). Egbuna is passionate about developing the entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing business support and advisory services to entrepreneurs within and outside the EDC business network for over a decade. She is a certified IFC/LPI Trainer, certified SMEDAN Business Development Service Provider (BDSP), life coach, work-life balance advocate/coordinator, and marriage counsellor who helps employees/career/business people find fulfilment in the workplace, balance in their daily activities, and solutions to their marital challenges. To reach Beatrice Egbuna she can be contacted through her email addresses: bettyegbuna@yahoo.com and maluwehelp@gmail.com. She also has a website, https://momentwithbetty.com.

4 Comments

  • Matthew Ngwu, March 7, 2024 @ 3:28 pm Reply

    Another interesting article. How things have changed unfortunately not for the better. People who are concerned with their own advancement and agenda have little room for anyone else. Love is the remedy for pride and protects us from ourselves.

    • Betty, March 8, 2024 @ 1:02 pm Reply

      Well said Matthew. Always on point with your comments. Thanks.

  • Lanre Idowu, March 12, 2024 @ 8:33 am Reply

    Thanks, Betty, for addressing this important topic in a sensitive and mature manner. Let me just add that the family is the primary unit of society. We are a family first before we are neighbours in our communities, classmates in school, or colleagues at work. The values imbibed by a family guide the family’s interactions with other members of the community/society. The ideal family should, therefore, be well groomed for meaningful relationships with others as it is the sum total of their values in a community that shape it for good or ill. A family member is a representative of the family and will often be judged by the values of their family. A family that lacks love cannot give it. A family that does not extol mutual respect and promote internal communication cannot be peace ambassadors.

    • Betty, March 18, 2024 @ 3:22 pm Reply

      Well said Lanre. You really analyzed the components of an ideal family. Thank you so much for making out time to explain this in detail. I really appreciate your contribution. Regards

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