Hello everyone! Today is another day to write something special. This time , i am going to write about my observation among Asian family especially the Filipino family.
According to Cambridge,a family is a group of people who are related to each other, such as a mother, a father, and their children. In addition in a social sense people may see themselves as being members of several families, as members of families with their parents and siblings and also members of families that they have formed themselves, right?
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But based on my observation, Asian family are unique because majority if these blood related and relatives lived together under one roof, like our aunt, uncle, cousin or most likely living with our grand parents. This is what they called "extended family.
Kinship care and system are very common among Asian family especially in the Philippines. In a more simple definition,an extended family is a family that extends beyond the nuclear and basic unit of family between parents and their children to include aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins or other relatives, all living nearby or in the same household.
Why is it Common towards Asian Family
( My Aunt and my Cousins)
There is no secret that extended family is very visible among Asian countries like China, Thailand and the Philippines. Based on what I've read Asian are very family oriented and family plays very vital role in culture. Practically, living in extended family households provides security and social welfare according to some Asian.
Base on what I've observed, it is the elders who have younger ones to look after them and keep them safe. This children grow up being loved and cared for not only by mother and father but by their aunts and uncles as well as the grandparents.
For Filipinos, this is a common thing. A Filipino practice and culture places a strong emphasis on familial piety and respect for our elders. Living in an extended family allows for multiple generations to live together under one roof, fostering a sense of unity, understanding and mutual support among family members.
Filipinos always have extended family structure wherever you are in the Philippines . Family for Filipinos means your Uncles and Aunts families as well as cousins to the 3rd degrees and so on . Far from the homeland, even Filipinos sharing the same surname not bloodline becomes “family, right?.
We can simply trace this back to the Filial Piety concept among us.Many Filipinos as well as other Asians hold the belief that each family member has several duties and responsibilities they must uphold and do. Observing one’s duties and responsibilities is important in order to correctly respect others and to ensure harmony among family members. For example, family members are required to show respect and love to their elders at all times.
What's it like Living in an Extended Family
Honestly, I am one of those majority who lives and experience what's it like to live in an extended family. Since i was a child, i was already living together with my grandparents (my mother's parent) as well as my cousins.Often, grandparents play a large role in raising their grandchildren especially in my case.Recognizing the importance and value of healthy family dynamics, various interventions and approaches have been developed to promote positive family relationships and well-being.
Living with my grandparents for the past 25 years has been the most fulfilling things ever. At first, i was very insecure seeing children together with their parents and enjoying every event and milestone. But i realized also that my grand parents has been always there for me through out my life. Being raised by grandparents is a unique situation and increasingly prevalent trend in today's society.
I am who i am right now all because of them. The bond between my grandparents and me is profound and emotionally enriching. The wisdom and cultural heritage passed down from grandparents (Lola and Lolo) play a crucial role in shaping the character and values of us together with my cousins.As I reflect on my upbringing in life , I am truly fortunate and happy to have had the presence of my grandparents in my life. Each of these cherished relationships was a unique tapestry woven from the threads of my distinctive personalities.
I am just truly lucky to have them in my life. Together with my aunt, uncle and cousin, Living under one roof became bearable. My extended family offer a boundless well of unconditional love, mirroring the nurturing affection parents could provide. This profound love and affection creates a haven of safety and security for us who are living in an extended family.
People sometimes tend to forget their roots when it comes to social and professional matters, right?. Living life for the first time means you'll be making a lot of mistakes, and you'll be needing a lot of guidance and wiser decision. But with the guidance of your extended family, no mistakes or challenges is hard.
Why our Extended Family is important
The Guidance and the sense of comfort will always be there for you with your extended family. They offers us a wealth of life experiences and knowledge that they can share with us in any situation. In my case, i am very lucky to live in a family who does not treat you differently.
I always believed that " No man is an Island" and we all need somebody out there in our life. It is very crucial to have that emotional support for you all the time.“ It takes a village to raise a child”. This well-known phrase refers to the importance of extended family (and friends) in relation to the daunting task that is child rearing in life.
In addition, this is just as very important one. Let's face it. We don't always want to talk to our parents when we are having a hard time, right?. Turning to a trusted aunt, uncle, cousin, or grandparent can be a healthy and positive experience for both parties. They play a very crucial roles in our lives.
In a multi generational families who share a home often experience emotional bonding throughout all the generations in life , which they may not be able to achieve if they live further apart. Extended family living naturally encourages family members to spend their free time together and witness each other’s daily lives which is very evident in our culture.
Deepening our sense of pride in family and having a support system to reach out to can help in almost every area of life.At some times in our life that we may feel that we need to do things on our own without anyone else's help. Sometimes this can be cathartic other times it can leave you with a feeling of loneliness and a mild feeling of despair and a heavy burden .
It is extremely important for everyone to understand that we are not islands and it is healthy to reach out to our support system. That our extended family are there for us no matter what.
Our loved ones can make us more resilient in times of stress, setback, or loss and they can also make the good times even better.
That's all for today's blog. I hope you learn something and feel free to comment down below what are your thoughts on extended family.
Until next time.