Family provides the essential support and strength that holds individuals together, acting as the foundation for their lives and well-being. As rightly said "family are the backbone". One thing that I always cherish in life is of having a good family support in life. There are my brothers and sisters who always concern for my well being. Being youngest at home, I do enjoy some privileges. Having them in my life is always play pivotal role in my life. They are the support of being with me in every situation. While there are people who were selfish and mean, but at the same time we have our family member who alwsys stand by my side at any event. Without expecting anything in return. Having a big family with brother and sister around is alwsys a boon.
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I remember, one of my neighbour has only child. For his further studies, they made sent him abroad. And the boy settled in there. The parent left helpless in their old age. They were not ready to shift abroad, and eventually leaving alone. Such is the condition of having a small family. Likewise therr werr many instances where the small famiky system backfires. Just in case of China's "two-child policy" has impacted the country by potentially slowing the rapid aging of its population. It did not take long to realize that they are losing the meaning of family, as the children were growing without any relation. They would be missing out on family tree that includes, uncle , aunt, cousins etc. The policy to have a smaller family seriously putting them vulnerable of losing the definition of family tree. There are downsides of having a small family that includes a lack of sibling support, potential loneliness in later life, increased pressure on each child to achieve, reduced family labor pool, difficulty caring for elderly parents, and sometimes societal stigma related to not contributing to population growth depending on the cultural context.
Family love is the strongest foundation
Living in a big family can provide advantages like strong emotional support, learning to share and compromise, developing a sense of responsibility, having built-in playmates, increased social skills, and a greater sense of community within the family unit. Children learn to navigate diverse personalities and contribute to a larger group dynamic, fostering adaptability and cooperation. Here it is important not to mix big family with joint family. Both are two seperate family unit. In earlier times, people always advocate of having a joint family. The Indian joint family system is gradually disappearing due to factors like increased urbanization, migration for employment opportunities, rising education levels, individual aspirations for privacy and autonomy, property disputes, changing gender roles, and the growing nuclear family model, leading to more people choosing to live in smaller, independent family units instead of large extended families under one roof.
I too have the privilege of living in joint family in my village. With the change of time, I have seen people preferring to have small family. In many urban areas, smaller families are becoming increasingly common due to lifestyle changes and greater access to family planning options. Raising children can be expensive, so having fewer children means less financial strain and more resources to invest in their education and well-being. Individuals may simply prefer a smaller family dynamic, allowing for more freedom and personal time. However, in the longer run, they may face certain issues. It is good to have a family that sustain longer and provide all the support to esch other. Living with family members and relatives as a close knit is alwsys fruitful.