Moment With Betty

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.

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.