The family is the fundamental unit in any society. Whether you’re a member of it or not, everyone has opinions on what goes on inside one. This single household can be an endless source of mystery to anyone who isn’t privy to what happens inside. Unfortunately, due to the current state of society, the family is going through some tough times.
Here are some of the most common problems families face, as observed by many experienced family lawyers:
Miscommunication and Lack of Communication
One of the most common issues in the family is communication. Families are struggling to communicate with one another effectively. This can be due to a lack of trust, fear of being judged, or simply not knowing how to talk about certain things. When this happens, it can lead to major problems.
In one study, women were asked about their marital issues. It was found that many of these women indicated that they felt a lack of communication in their marriage was the main issue. If there is no proper communication within a marriage, it can lead to conflict. When this happens, one or both spouses may seek companionship outside of the marriage. We’ve heard many stories about people who had an affair because they were not being honest with their spouses. This led them to feel distant from each other and eventually resulted in someone straying. This is one of the biggest ramifications of a lack of communication in the family.
Poor Decision Making
Another issue that can arise from a lack of communication is poor decision-making. When you have people in the same household not being open to discussing plans or ideas, things are bound to get missed. These little miscommunications can snowball into larger problems down the road. If there isn’t proper communication, you can’t make informed decisions as a family. This can lead to conflict and frustration.
Experts explain that poor decision-making can screw up a family. One example she gives is when one spouse unilaterally decides to move the family without discussing it with the other. This can lead to a lack of trust, which needs to be fostered in the family unit.
Many other issues arise from poor decision-making, but it ultimately comes down to this: you can’t fix a problem if you don’t know about it or refuse to discuss it. Once again, this can be due to a lack of communication.
Even if you get the decision-making part down, there’s always the question of whether or not it was the right one. You can make hundreds of decisions and think you chose the best outcome, but it could have been different in hindsight. This is why people will often say that they should have chosen their parents wisely. This is a difficult task, but it can be done if you have an open line of communication.
Money Matters
This is another area where communication plays a large role. If there’s no communication between family members, money will be an issue. We all know that the lack of a budget or a financial plan can lead to some major problems in a marriage. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been together for 50 years; there are just certain things that should never be brought up in a heated argument. Money is one of those things.
It’s very difficult to have an honest discussion about money with your family members. This is because everyone has their ideas about spending, saving, or investing. Not to mention, there are often feelings of guilt and resentment when it comes to the money a family has or doesn’t have.
Due to our society’s ever-growing debt problem, many families are struggling financially. The lack of communication between family members can exacerbate this issue. We see all the time how disagreements on spending and saving lead to more conflict in the home. It can even be a triggering event that leads to divorce in some cases.
Trust and Security Issues
While there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, there is such a healthy one. This can be achieved in part through feeling secure and comfortable with your spouse. If you don’t feel this way, it will lead to problems. Trust needs to be nurtured in a marriage, but it’s difficult when there are no lines of communication.
If you have little or no communication in the family, your trust levels will suffer. There’s just no way around this issue. To have a successful family, you need to have open communication.