At the end of the year, many families reunite to enjoy time together. These times can be happy, yet they can also reveal tensions, unfulfilled needs, and complex relationships. The reality is that being together does not necessarily mean you are connected. Families can be both joyful and anguished or distressed at the same time.
These contradictions are brought into focus during festive periods. They show just how strong the ties of a family are, and remind us that family life is not just a social structure but a continuous practice of connecting and caring.
In our work at the Centre of Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Families and Society at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, we pose what, on the surface, seems a straightforward question: what do families do not only to survive but to thrive together?
We find repeated themes in our research: families thrive (or do well) when trust is fostered, when care is given, and when all members feel they belong.
Family cohesion enables individuals to feel safe and connected. It is not about being perfect or always agreeing, but being able to trust and get along with each other.
We’ve found that more unified families can:
- communicate openly
- adapt to change
- support each other in the trials of life.
These virtues are not something to be assumed. An example is trust, which is not automatic. It is constructed gradually, by respecting each other, the consistency of a present caregiver, the fairness of shared tasks, and the assurance that a person’s voice is heard.
When trust breaks down, families often feel uncertain or even unsafe in their own homes. Yet when trust is strong, it creates the invisible thread that helps families to survive change.
Our studies show that disagreement can coexist with closeness, provided families have ways to repair relationships after tension. One parent in our research said it best:
We fight, we cry, but we still sit together for supper.
That small act of sitting together is part of the work of care that holds families intact.
South African families
South African families and households are diverse in their structures: nuclear, single-parent, multigenerational, child-headed, or based on emotional connection and choice. That’s the result of cultural richness as well as the heritage of apartheid, which disturbed traditional family life through forced migration, labour relations, and systemic marginalisation.
In our qualitative research in urban communities, families combined traditional values with contemporary realities. Grandmothers are usually key figures in caregiving, and young people contribute meaningfully to family and household life. But families face significant pressures. Many struggle to meet basic needs, like shelter and food, as well as intangible needs like love, respect, and understanding. Family cohesion may be eroded when these needs are not met.
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Unmet needs also reflect what we call “bad care”. By that, we mean not getting care or getting inadequate care.
The impact of poor care on people is among the most interesting findings we discovered during our research. It occurs when caregiving responsibilities are not shared equally, when intangible needs are not met, or when family members can’t talk to each other. The consequences of unmet intangible needs are usually quite powerful.
For example, a grandmother may make sure her grandchildren are fed, dressed, and safe every day. But if her desire for love, connection, or relaxation is not met, she may feel like no one cares about her or that she is being taken for granted. As one grandmother described it, being “the glue” that kept the family together meant that her personal needs for rest, emotional support, or care were overlooked.
Some families expect their younger members (daughters in particular) to take care of other people, even if they are not prepared or haven’t consented. In our study, one interviewee said that since the death of her grandmother, she was supposed to be the one who would keep the family together, though she did not consider herself ready. Her personal needs, such as being heard, respected, and given space to grieve, were placed on hold.
A care-giver who feels as though no one is noticing or supporting them might end up feeling depressed, angry, or burned out. They might not ask for help, for fear of being judged or rejected. One woman said she never talked to her family about her concerns since they “have their own problems” and “don’t want to listen”.
This silence, stemming from pride, fear, or a lack of trust, can hurt relationships and leave people feeling even more alone.
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Inadequate care also refers to being given care that is not responsive to all the needs of a family member. Families who focus only on food, shelter, and money might lose sight of their emotional and spiritual needs. And as those are not fulfilled, the emotional fabric of the family starts to fall apart.
During the holidays, these family behaviours tend to get worse. Being back under one roof brings out disparities in money, values, or hopes. Adult children come home with fresh experiences, parents remember the sacrifices they made, and grandparents hope their traditions will live on.
Care becomes the language that connects people of all ages in this mix. It can be said in words, like when people talk, laugh, or say they’re sorry. It often happens softly, like when people share a meal made with love, offer to help, or take a moment to listen.
Care is not seasonal. It is every day and intentional. The family is not a luxury; it is the pillar of wellbeing. Once the decorations are packed away and the noise fades, what remains are the relationships we have tended.
Written by Nicolette V Roman, SARChI: Human Capabilities, Social Cohesion and the Family, University of the Western Cape.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
