Friday, March 30, 2012

I  CHANGED MY OPINION

Sincer the War, much of Japan's culture has changed, or has been told to change. One of the affected system is the shape of families. Like many other things, Japan learned this from the U.S: The important thing is not the family line or lineage, but individuals. Married couples don't belong to the families; they should make their new families So, the members of a family should be parents and children; two generations.


The idea is right and it was necessary for Japanese society, especially for women Japanese women began to be treated as individuals.

When I got married, I, of course, wanted to be independent from my husband's family. I didn't like to live with my husband's parents, but when our elder son was 6, we started living next to my husband's parents because we needed babysitting. Thanks to them, we could work fulltime and raise two children. But my idea of family unit was parents and children, and as much as I could I tried not to depend on them. Making meals, cleaning the house, and laudry were the housework we could not rely on, Ithought. And I rejected the conservative way of life of old people.

But recently my opinion is changing .

I live with my husband and my elder son's family; his wife and their two sons. Each of us has our own kitchen, but we have meals and teas .together, and the children always play in our living room. (Many people are surprised to learn that we not only live together, but also have meals together.)

I find many benefits to living in a big family, and above all, it is good for children, I think. They can have many adults who love them, and it's very happy for them. Today our younger grandson chose to stay home with us, grandparents, while his brother went to the dentist with his mother. He practiced riding a bike with his grandfather and helped me picking vegetables in the garden. It was better for him than reading at the waiting room. For children adult people are like the windows to see the world and people. Having many windows is lucky. If the grandparents can show them their traditional culture like farming, fishing, dancing, or music, it is even better.

My husband says I have changed my opinion as my situation has changed. Yes, I have to admit it. I'm not a young wife trying to protest against the old custom now. .



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