On Family……

Most people would admit that families in America are very different from what they were 30 – 40 – 50 years ago. I grew up in a 2 parent household  on Long Island, NY as did all of my friends in our suburban neighborhood.

We were your typical 1950’s / 60’s Leave to Beaver and Father Knows Best households.  I could go on and on about the demise of the family in America,  however I think that horse has been beat to death, so I’ll take a different tack on this post. There’s something good to be said about the stability and viability of the traditional family unit and I think its unfortunate that we’ve seen families across this country (including mine) disintegrate over the years.  After all the family is the backbone of our culture and a critical building block for civilization in general.

Ok…with that said, I’m sitting here alone on Christmas morning sipping a cup of coffee contemplating my life, my family and the world I live in. I’ve woken up alone on Christmas mornings before so it is no big deal to me especially considering my son Adam is in town and the great time I had with him and his family (mother, step-dad and friends) last night at a Christmas party in Beaufort. Even though I have one child “Andei” in Paris, France this Christmas day and my parents still alive and well living in New York I can sit here in my empty house and feel extremely lucky and blessed that even though we are scattered around the world we still have a strong bond and deep and sincere love for one another.

Adam, Mom and Andei, Thanksgiving 2008

It’s also great that I have amiable relationships with the mother’s of my 2 children and we can all get along and work towards the good of our children. I’m very aware that not all broken families get along after separation and Divorce, so I consider myself extremely blessed that I have loving (amiable) relationships with my extended family.

This is a difficult time of the year for many people. Its hard on single mothers, fathers, grandparents and definitely the children.  I’m sure there are many people waking up in empty homes with children away visiting spouses or grandparents. During this Christmas season and when feeling down its still important to remember and be aware of the blessing we do have. There are a lot of people out of work right now so if we have a decent job that is a blessing to be thankful for – good health is another, friends that care about us and of course our children, even if they are not with us at this moment in time.

Sure…we can yearn for those simpler days when Dad went to work, Mom cleaned the house and cooked our meals and children played outside without fear of being abducted. A time without computers, internet, rampant commercialism and parents working two jobs in order to stay ahead of the bills.  A time when families woke up together on Christmas morning and shared gifts under the tree, sat together at breakfast and went off to church.

American society continues to evolve…and evolve for better or worse.  I don’t know where its going to lead and if our economy is going to get better or collapse. All I know right now – this Christmas morning is that things could be a whole lot worse in my personal life and I’m going to count my blessings and be thankful for my family and friends, even though it is nothing like the one I grew up in on Long Island 50 years ago.  I’m also thankful for my faith and in God. In him all things are possible and can work out in the end for good.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all who read the KeO Blog!