Joint Family System : Ancient patriarchal system.
However, with changing times, there is an emergence of extended family system. People have come to realise that the grandparents can be of great help in single family units. Selfish though this motive may seem, grandparents can be of help when both parents are away at work taking care of children, bringing them back from school, seeing to their homework, being around when the maid comes in as well as the valuable advice which they give proves to be of immense help, as they have greater experience in life. Grandparents are the ones who teach kids the right conduct and good things about life and steer the life of children in proper direction. According to a popular Burmese proverb
“In time of test, family is the best”.
An old fable too proved this proverb wherein an old ailing farmer, on his death-bed, preaches his sons the importance of unity and living together. He uses wooden stick to show how one stick can be easily broken as compared to the bundle which was impossible to break. Lastly, with most families going the nuclear way, grandparents, in-laws, do stay along with the family as a single unit. The joint family system binds the members of the family in love and affection and teaches them to be tolerant towards other people’s mistakes, by developing the attitude of sharing with and caring for others.
