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"The family", usually refers to a group of human beings, namely, the father, the mother, the child or the children. "The family" of modern times, however, refers to a father and a child or children, or a mother and a child or children. This is the age of revolutionary grandmothers, shouting like peacocks, in skin tight jeans and baggy shirts. With this in mind, how does one expect the modern family to be?

What happened to home-cooked meals? What happened to cuddling with one's family, in front of a warm cozy fire? What happened to family reunions at small hideaways in all parts of the world. Nothing; nothing has happened to these most wonderful experiences except that, the home-cooked meals have taken refuge in hotels, bakeries and food outlets. The family fire has died out and is considered ancient history. The small hideaway remains unused and wants wear.

In modern times, everyone is too involved with themselves. Their minds are preoccupied with their vanity,ambitions and careers. They have become too busy, too selfish and self-centred.They love themselves more than their neighbours. In a good family or rather a family of the times other than "modern", each member contributed to the family. Each member has a role to play in a family in order for it to be united. If there is no unity in the home front ,how can one expect unity in one's country?One should first take the plank out of one's eye before taking the splinter out of another's eye.

The family is like the roots of the tree. It gives good anchorage and a firm foundation for each person. It elongates and is produced into an immensely strong trunk which protects and supports its branches. If the trunk or roots lack the ability of strength and support, then the branches wither away and die, like the family of modern times.

The foundation (family) determines the path taken by the person, as his or her life. If the foundation is not settled, then the path taken by the person would be filled with hillocks and obstacles. The person would have a bumpy ride on the band wagon which travels through the journey of life. This is the prize for the family of modern times. Each person in the family is just as important. If one element, the mother or the father, is lost then the family's growth and progress would be always incomplete. If one is sick, it is usually due to the lack of vitamins or minerals. The family may be considered as one's body.

The modern family is usually dissolved of its element or elements by one word,divorce. It is the easiest way for people to deal with their problems by just running away from them.They are the role models for their nurslings yet they portray these images for their children to follow. No wonder the family of modern times has turned out as such.

A house is built with cement and bricks but a home is made by a loving, caring and considerate family and that's where the heart is. The family is the sculptor, who moulds and shapes the individual (member of the family) into a sculpture that is a dominant figure in society or a dominant figure in jail. It determines whether the sculpture is kept in the art gallery or sold on the street.

When I think of the family of modern times all that comes to mind is, "Goodbye golden age and welcome stone age".

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