Academic Member of İstanbul Gelişim University Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Child Development Sümeyra Bender said ‘‘Spending more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted our family dynamics which we might’ve been avoiding for a very long time because of certain unhelpful patterns of coping as a family unit. This actually can turn into an excellent opportunity for parents to examine their relationships with their partner and with their child or children and how other family members interact with each other all together.’’
Bender said ‘‘The nature of the parents relationship with each other and with their children, how many children the family has, other family members, hence the family can be multigenerational, and other many influences may really have a great affect on the family dynamics. For example, one parent might have a closer relationship with their child or children than the other partner or they can be closer to their child or children even more than their partner which can cause jealousy at the end between children. One child might have been always seen as the blacksheep or as we call ‘Scapegoat’ child of a dysfunctional family and been taking on the role of trouble-maker. These interactions in the family might come in view more clearly because of the pandemic and how it led families to spend more time together since many parents might be working and children might be studying from home now.’’
COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO ASK THEMSELVES TO FACILITATE THE RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE FAMILY
‘‘Couple questions for parents to ask themselves might really help to facilitate or rekindle the relationship within the family.How does each family member show and like to recieve love and how frequently is it shown?
The way we show affection and care to each other might not be the way what the other family member expects to be shown to.’’ Bender says and continues ‘‘How do we solve a problem we face within the family?
How do family members cope with pandemic and its consequences?
Do we spend time together and one on one?
Do we have times to play with them?
Do we know new interests of our partners or children?
Their ideas of future that they might hold close to the heart that is emerging since we continuously grow?
Asking and clarifying these issues can make us bond as a family unit and might lead to healthier family environment.’’
