The dangers of families drifting apart-causes and preventions

Unknown to societies in the past, where families formed the integral part of society,modern day society preaches extensively on the commonality of forming nuclaer families and independent lifestyles.By and large,this has caused familt bonds to considerably weaken,debilitate and cast fundamentalist social structure into doldrums.Such inimitable and pervasive culture dominating the world by storm is not only recognisably in Singapore alone,but a phenomenon sweeping across the globe.In societies where technological advancements and work life is rife,the segregation of children from parents is virtually distinctive.Such an exemplification is evidenced from the solitary lifestyles led by many people today.Entrenched in the monotonous echoes of daily chores and innumerable obligation,families today operate as individualistic automatons.Not mention overseas working parents who desolate their actual presence from personalised communication with children.Moreover liberalisation and democratisation has become the catchphrase of a fluorishing generations of teenagers willing to venture outdoors with friends,thus shifthing their pillar of support to external forces.Moreover,social ills remain a major part of problem families face,where the breadwinners are engulfed in a perpetual chasm of vice,eg:gambling,alcoholism,almost instinctively,the entire family is affected and deconstruction of mutual trust and understanding is rampant.Soaring divorce rates,relationships breakdown and social problems bear testimony of the exacerbating rift.In addition,long-lasting endurance and tolerance has gradually been an eroded indefinitely,at least in Singapore context.Nevetheless,Out of the emasculated family structure comes hope for a better tomorrow.The introduction of the 5-day workweek and family day community activities have at laest reaped some rewards.Implementation of overseas Singaporean portal guaranteeing easy accesibility and priorities given to buy HDB flats near to aged parents or close relatives are just forseeable measures on the iceberg tip.Overarchingly,preservation of continued exemplary family success lies in the ability to spend quality time with children and grandparents.Not only ensuring more intangible cohesive relationship and interaction,but also collegiality and congeniality and narrowing the generation gap.
By Samuel Tan