ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF EXTENDED FAMILY

Extended family is one of the most popular family types in Uzbekistan. I assume
that building a bigger community is one of the priorities of Uzbek nation. The
whole concept of having a large family is rooted deeply into our mentality.
I live in an immediate family, which comprises of my parents, my grandmother
and me. From my point of view there are some advantages and disadvantages
of extended families.
It is extremely important to stay a close-knit family, be supportive and attentive
to each other. A good point of extended family is that it is usually very united.
This families experience a strong bonding not just because they share a
common background, but because they are constantly communicating.
Members are getting to know one another throughout the time and become
lifelong friends. Thus, children won’t lose touch either their grandparents or
distant cousins.
Also, there are several financial and environmental benefits. There is no doubt
that shared household requires less expenses compared to other family types.
Parents could save a significant amount of money on food and childcare.
Furthermore, it is scientifically proven that bigger communities consume less
products and hence produce less waste per person.
However, while living in an extended family, a problem of too little time of
private can appear. A big family means noise, bustle and rush. It cannot be
argued that sometimes people need to have some personal time and if it is
limited, a person becomes irritable and touchy.
We must also admit that all members have different tempers and behaviour,
which can cause misunderstandings and arguments. So, time is needed to solve
all the problems.
To summarise, extended family could be a great experience of building a strong
and united community.