English
EspañolFight for the social and economic model to provide you with the space and time your family needs. You have a fundamental right to demand it; given your family’s strategic social functions, it contributes to society. But demand what you genuinely live by in your home. No Government or company, no matter how favorable they might be, can replace you as a spouse, father, or mother within your household.
Text
“Raising children (represents a challenge because) parents come home exhausted, not wanting to talk, and many families no longer even share a common meal. Distractions abound, including an addiction to television”. (The Joy of Love, n.50)
Commentary
Demand that society and companies organize themselves so that, as a husband and father, you can have the space and time that family life needs. But do not betray yourself, for you cannot expect an “outside” force to put your presence, your education, and your love in your home. A family´s truth, in other words, to live according to the family´s nature, is a social revolution. Do not let your family be crushed by the “market,” by the consumerist model, or by a dehumanized society that only seeks benefits and profits for a select few, the powerful.
Everything that justifies the lack of a family educational project is an excuse. If your family is the most crucial thing in your life, you will have to find time and the willingness to be present even when there seems to be none. For example, having lunch or dinner together is practical and simple to implement. Mealtime can be an incredibly enriching moment to share together and dialogue; we cannot waste it and much less let it be invaded by television or cell phones. It is essential to share family time. One practice I recommend is “no electronic devices during mealtime.” We might be surprised by the fruits that this simple action will bear.
