How Has My Family Influenced Me?

Each of us is born in this world without knowing what circumstances or situations we will have. The basis of who we are is unknown. A lot of experiences shape us into who we are today. However, there is a vital component that takes a significant role in shaping us: the family. From the moment our mothers give birth to us, our life begins. I have always considered the role of families crucial for the development of children. I have seen its importance in my friends’ lives and even in my own.

The concept of the family seems to have changed a lot lately, and it continues to change today. Whenever we hear the word “family,” we no longer think of a mother, father, and their children. There are so many more options to consider. In fact, the different types of families can change from one country to another. Culture also plays an important part in how the family is viewed today. Why has the concept of family change? My answer would be that it has changed over time. Decades ago, for example, in the 1940s, the only picture we would get in our head of a family would be the traditional type: mother, father, and children. New ideologies and trends in the world, such as divorce, religion, the sex revolution, and many others, have modified this idea. For instance, women’s history has contributed to changing the mindset of women all over the world. Women were expected to get married, have a family, and stay at home. But now, in some parts of the world and as generations pass by, this idea starts to vanish. I’m going to illustrate this idea a little further. I was born in Barcelona, a modern European city that receives different influences. Many of my friends in Spain have rejected the idea of families and claim that they will never get married nor have children. They believe it is more important to focus on professional goals. From this idea, other consequences arise which affect families as well, such as cohabitation, the age when they get married or have children, etc. Now, I am not saying that their ideas are wrong. They are just different than mine. However, we cannot deny that this difference of thought contributes to the changing notion of families and, especially, its decline.

Now that we have established the multitude of families there are, we should look at how this change affects its most crucial part: children. Many studies have revealed the essential role that families have in children’s future. For instance, intact married families contribute in large part to the cognitive skills of children. On the other hand, children who come from broken families, for example, divorced parents, are more likely to be disadvantaged. The same happens with other types of families such as single parents, partners who cohabitate, etc. Children born in these different circumstances are at a disadvantage regarding school expulsion, abuse, poverty, domestic violence, etc.

I have always thought that the only thing children need is love, which obviously is very important. However, looking at the data, I cannot deny which type of family will bring better outcomes for children. I have seen this in my friends who are part of broken families, divorced parents, etc. Ultimately these affect not only their future but who they are. Of course, I am not against the other types of families. We have no power over the family we are born into nor our future circumstances. However, it is very interesting to understand that families are essential for the future of children.