What Moving Has Done To Our Relationships

Each year Americans are moving intercity, interstate and abroad. Migration has become a common feature with every citizen chasing his or her version of the American Dream. Such a movement has its effects, some good and others not so good. One such adverse effect has been the social costs of moving on the traditional American Family.
Two or three generations of family living together in the same house or the same city comprises the traditional American family. This concept of family is epitomized by rural America, but is fast losing relevance in cities where unitary families are a norm. Better economic prospects in states other than that of original residence are forcing the Americans to take a hard choice. More often than not they choose to move with its direct adverse effects on their immediate family. The elders of a family are the most affected when a decision to relocate is taken. This decision typically involves leaving behind the elders. The elders are thus faced with an empty nest which has a direct impact on their emotional health. Families moving sometimes opt to put their elders in old age homes and institutions for the aged so as to concentrate on their aspirations. Such a move is difficult for some elders to cope with and they become depressed.
Along with the elders others are also affected. Children too feel the adverse effects of moving. The young lose the opportunity to imbibe the traditional values and lessons of life, which can best be passed by a time-tested oral tradition.
Moving to a new place consumes finances. Relocation involves a careful management of your budget as well as your various insurance policies. A move abroad requires far more careful financial planning than an interstate move. Even unitary families are greatly affected financially. It may well happen that the children plan to move away requiring the parents to chip in thus increasing the financial burden. Despite doing that, the children may not reciprocate on reaching their new place thus straining the family social relations.
Moving also affects the way families relate to each other and the society at large. Relocation involves, in most cases, leaving behind a part of your family, that vacuum requires to be filled up. When suitable role models do not fill the space, siblings become vulnerable to the darker sides of human nature and at a later stage visits to the psychiatrist become a norm. Why are Americans going in for psychiatric counseling in increasing numbers? The answer possibly lies in the disarray caused by the breakdown in the American family social structure - a possible outcome of migration. So should we as Americans reevaluate the way we have become or continue to chase the eternal rainbows - thats the question that needs answering. Links -- Links -- Links --

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