The Changing Typical Family

Everyone can agree- the family structure in the modern world is rapidly changing. There is no longer the parental unit of a working father and stay at home mother taking care of the children. Families are changing with fathers choosing to stay home or mothers who are working full-time with a secondary set of adults taking care of the children in the forms of grandparents or day care centres. The three major changes for this can be attributed to the decline in marriage, a rising number of women in the workforce, and a new blend of remarried or co-habited families. This can have a wide variety of changes resulting in backlash in our personal, professional, other relationships with friends in society. Your child is learning a host of positive traits with both sets of working parents and there is a dire need for support for parents who face negativity in society because of this decision. 1.Empower Your Child by Empowering Yourself Children who see their parents and especially their mothers are more likely to have jobs themselves. The working mother shows their children responsibility, independence, and ambition to retain higher positions and wages. This is especially important for girls in our culture to have financial and personal independence and hold valuable positions in society. Also, men who grow up in households with a working mother are more respectful and well-rounded men when they are older. The working mother and father, or stay at home parents, show children that their actions aren’t limited to what society has decided is the norm and they are free to do what works best for their own future. 2.Teaching your Children about Responsibilities Children see the value of responsibilities when you finish your job and continue with the “job” that need to be done for your family and yourself. They are exposed to a realistic world that they would be entering very soon with a need for both parents to have careers. By teaching them the importance of fulfilling your duties at work and successfully at home, you are showing them by example of the actions they can take when placed in the similar situation. The impact of having a career and a home life signals to your children that you are a true role model. 3.Breaking Gender Roles Children who have working mothers and fathers gain an abundance of positive traits that will only help them in the future. Girls who see their mother working see the positivity of having an income and gain ambition to hold a position themselves when they are older. They see their fathers providing for their family or looking after the home when their mother is at work as responsibility that is shared between the parents. They can tackle the shame and guilt faced with a working mother by reflecting on their own family along with a higher standard of expectations for their own spouse. They will gain the confidence to battle the regressive backlash when they disclose their own career aspirations. Men who have working fathers see the importance of providing for their family, the peace of financial safety, and the importance of a healthy family and career balance. They see the value of helping out with chores at home because it is still work at the end of the day and doesn’t discriminate by gender. They will prove to be better husbands, fathers, and members of society. The benefits of breaking the archaic and toxic gender roles in our society we are helping our own daughters and son’s from facing a future similar to ours. 4.Promoting Education and Growth By seeing your positions no matter how big or small, exposes your children to the possibilities in the world. They see you as credible sources of information and guidance when they seek their own path in the world. You can first-hand explain the importance of education or the changing work force to aid your children in the direction which will find them happiness and comfort in a world long after you’re gone. The positives of having a working set of parents-more importantly mothers provide more positives than the regular repeated negatives portrayed in our society. Women should not feel guilty about having positions no matter how big or small outside the home. Mothers- empower your child by stopping the guilt and negativity when you see it. Children- speak up for your parents and stop the shame when you hear it as you are the future of our new world.