Is There Any Such Thing As A

[nailedit]

non-dysfuntional family?

Speaking to a few of my friends recently and it seems apparent that there isnt such a thing....

Looking back, everyone that Ive ever known has had some sort of family trauma or come from some such sort of background. Quite a few ABers have also expressed the same sentiment.

 

 

[naomi24]

Fiveleaves, I can see both sides of the coin really.  Suffering may well push people towards atheism - if God existed he wouldn't have let it happen - but religion offers comfort and the much needed care and companionship of fellow believers who tell you that what happened to you wasn't God's doing but man's - so that makes sense to the victim of abuse too. 

[Deskdiary]

Yes, there is.

I'm married to the love of my life, my 20 year old daughter is doing well at university, my 15 year old son is in a developing player programme for a Premiership rugby club, and we are a happy family with lots of laughter.

We love our family life.

[naomi24]

No rats among the rest of the family, DD?  Parents, brothers,  sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins?

[Deskdiary]

I'm estranged from my two sisters Naomi because all they ever wanted was to borrow money. I haven't seen either for over 20 years. I still see my brother.

Rightly or wrongly, family or not, I've always been happy to cut people out of my life if things happen.

My immediate family, as far as I'm concerned, are my wife and kids and I'm happy with that.

I can never understand people who entertain people they don't like. I just don't see the point.

There was a poster a few years ago who was complaining about a relative she didn't like having to come to Xmas dinner.

My solution to that is very simple; they don't come. And I literally couldn't give a tinker's cuss if that causes any family issues.

 

[Tilly2]

No, I don't think there is any such thing as a non-dysfuntional family unless you live in cloud cuckoo land.

I believe that each family is dysfuntional in its own way.

[andy-hughes]

Tilly - I think it depends how you define "dysfunctional".

To me it's a strong label for families with deep seated issues.

I wouldn't apply to families who experience the normal ups and downs, because every family has those, but not every family has serious long-lasting damaging issues. 

[Tilly2]

Andy, my definition would be 'broken'. I am not referring to nuclear families, which may be perfectly harmonious, but the wider, extended family. Every family has a non- harmonious element, I'm sure.

[naomi24]

DD, would you ever turn your back on one of your children?

[rowanwitch]

I think all families have the ability to become dysfunctional, sometimes because of outside influences, or the conflicts that arise from strong clashing personalities. That won't even include those with one or more with damaged or abusive personalities, and those with recognised pathologies.  

It surprises me what families can absorb without appearing to fit the dysfunctional label, how many have a resilience that gives a degree of functionality where others would fail while at the same time others can under minimal pressure.

 

[Old_Geezer]

Dysfunctional family surely is the description of those in the area who can't behave, is a nuisance to everyone in the locale, and gets up everyone's nose instinctively. Yeah there are loads of them. Seems strange to need to ask.

[fripfrip]

Family life is great,just remember the saying 

Blood is thicker than water.