Disconnection at Home

Today American families are extremely disconnected from each other. This has devastating consequences and it needs to stop.

In the dictionary the word ‘Family’ is defined as “A group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit”. A unit is defined as one or more things coming together to form a complex whole. You need communication to be able to become a “whole” or one with multiple people. Disconnected families struggle with communication causing familial disputes, conflict, and arguments.

The National Library of Medicine has done multiple studies showing the importance of family in an adolescents life and the consequences of a lack of communication and disconnection between family members. Feeling disconnected from family is very damaging to mental health. Most young people have feelings is disconnection in public and when that feeling seeps into home life it is consequential. They should have a safe place to get away from real world stress but, if a home is negative, they don’t get that.

Mentally and physically humans are at our healthiest when we have strong bonds with the ones close to us but when work and stress gets in the way, it affects and causes stress for every person in the household, not just the parents. Familial estrangement is the correct term, meaning, “Loss of a previously existing relationship between family members, through physical and/or emotional distancing.” While feeling disconnected from some family members, uncles, aunts, cousins, is normal you shouldn’t feel disconnected or distant from your parents.

Being disconnected from your parents can cause lack of communication from feelings and thoughts of, “They won’t understand me” and “Our beliefs and lifestyles are too different”. Not connecting with children will cause them to believe differently and have them doubt your ability to understand and communicate with them because of failed attempts in the past. Disconnection between family occurs most commonly between ages 11-15, this is when children and teens start to explore environments around them.

When a family is connected this exploring causes growth and opportunities for learning and conversations that help shape childhood, but when they are disconnected it’s a different story. The children will feel then can’t ask questions and search for answers by themselves, sometimes getting those answers from unreliable sources. Small things can ensure a family is connected, movie nights, spending time outside, going and exploring places together, and having regular conversations.

Parents being empathetic towards children and teens is the most important part of being connected and having a relationship.

Don’t wait years and try to get through to children. These habits need to be practiced from early on.

American families are disconnected, help them re-connect.

Kaileen Behrens