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Senior citizens feel worried often that family bonds are waning gradually, traditional values are being eroded, grandparents are left in old age homes and children are too engrossed in their professions to pay any attention to healthy interactions among members of the family. Money and status take predominance over human relationship. Another thorn that pricks elders is the fast changing way of life, particularly in grandchildren.

It is true, there is generation gap. But it is inevitable. It is welcome too. I’m confident that all my fellow senior citizens agree that we are not the same as what our grandparents used to be. But the malady is the present day grandparent is missing the healthy and affectionate interaction with grandchildren. This gap in interaction needs to be filled up.

The present generation has more opportunities for brighter careers and in that pursuit they move out to far off places. Now, grandchildren are getting ready for still larger challenges. We are proud of them. We don’t wish to clip off their wings of progress. How then should we help strengthen the family ties so that ethical values and traditions progress in a healthy manner?

We, grandparents should enjoy spending more time with children and grandchildren and give them the joy of our company whenever we have the chance to stay with them. When we are away from them we must maintain contacts through letters, phone calls and e-mails. Letter-writing is a wonderful art and it is a strong bridge between generations. There should not be any communication gap between parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren. We must take initiative to strengthen family bonds conveying to them the salient features of our native places, the greatness of our ancestors, their endeavors and sacrifices and their love and affection. Grandchildren love to know about their roots and ancestral places.

Sons and daughters-in-law and daughters and sons-in-law should not attempt to weaken the bonds between grandparents and grandchildren. It does more harm than good in the long run. Many of the evils of today are the result of communication gap between generations. A family that prays together stays together. Devotion, patriotism, faith, social awareness, interest in art and literature or any positive ideal helps to develop mutual affection and regard among members in a family. Such a family makes an ideal home.

We must strengthen familial bonds. That instills discipline in the family. Such families only are an asset to the progress of society. Let us preserve the time-tested healthy traditions, strengthen them with our positive and rich experience and pass them on to progeny.
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‘A family is more sacred than the state�            
� POPE PIOUS