Imagine yourself living in a house together with all of your family members or relatives including your parents, siblings, grandparents, inlaws, cousins, uncle or aunts, what a big family right? The more the merrier that's what others said, but is it really merrier?
A family that includes in one household near relatives; an extensive group of people who are related by blood or marriage or who otherwise regards themselves as a large family is what we called Extended Family.
Some people or family practices this kind of family system including my family. Based on my experience living with an extended family, living together is not that happy as you think.
As what I have noticed in living with an extended family it has benefits too.
One of it's primary benefit is that it reduces the family's financial strain. Also it helps in child care support from other adult family members and takes some of the load of the parents.
In an extended family, adults can share their worries, stresses and responsibilities with the other family members forming a close family support structure or bond. Another advantage is companionship because family members can frequently spend time with their loved ones.
Although there's an advantages in living together there's always an opposite side of it, the disadvantages.
I need to share this to you and I can tell why living with extended family is not healthy. Some family members becomes lazy. They tend to exhibit lazy attitudes towards life. They might think that there's someone who's ready to give support, they can sit down and do no work.
This family system can affect negatively in relationships especially on married couples, because there's an open interference in the marriage of the couple.
Other family members can pass comments may it be good or bad behaviours and may sometimes can lead to quarrels. Some may offer ideas about getting a divorce. This may affect negatively a marriage that could otherwise have been successful.
Lastly, leadership can be determined through money, by how deep a person's pocket is.
Some members are influenced by how large amount of money they can get from a certain family member. Therefore the family member who gives more money gains more respect than the natural or to the one who is supposed to be leader of the family.
It's sad but this is reality. I am not against with extended family system. I'm just sharing what I am experiencing living with this family system. I know in God's perfect time we can have our own house too.
definitely right. Having extended family is very nice and happy though there are lots of disadvantages too. One of them is jealousy that might resulted to insecurities because everyone has a uniqueness that captures relatives attentions then others are ignored but the good thing about it is that I think it'll be easier for everyone to overcome life challenges because his family members are living with him and he can easily ask for help. So, my question to you @eommaZel is, which do you prefer, extended or nuclear family ? π