Does having family around keep one from making horrible mistakes

My family has lived in one area since 1880. While we all get into our fair share of trouble (two of my uncles have been in jail), the difference with having a big, close family is that they're there to help you. And when you make bad decisions it's not just a parent telling you, it's the whole family, which tends to sink in better. When my parents got separated, a great-aunt had an old farmhouse we moved into. While I was dealing with the divorce, I spent weekends with my favorite aunt and uncle. When grandma was in a car wreck, I moved in to help her around the house. Also, we never had to pay for movers, landscaping, roofing, etc. because someone in the family, was able to help do the work. It also makes a big difference when kids are involved, because there is always some one to babysit, bring hand-me-down clothes and toys. Having a big close family is a nice safety net and helps in so many ways. Though I live far away now, my husband and I intend to move back when we're ready to have kids.

I live in texas and all of my family live in Texas as well, except for a very few but they live in Louisana, which is not far away..Yes my family is a good back up system, they are generally there for you, but sometimes they can be a pain in the a$$ too, if they get their back up for some reason...In an emercency like the loss of your Mom, yes my family was there for me when i lost my Mom, and my dad..I can depend on them to help me and to have them to guide me if i need advice...

Well, it depends on the extended family. I had to live with most of my extended family when I was younger and all of them were like my parents (though they had different parenting styles). And I have to say it helped. But it wouldn't have worked if my father wasn't close to his siblings...not everyone really cares how their sibling's kids turn out.

heck no even with people around for suport a kid will go out and get into trouble any way if thats the way their makeup is. Do you think you would have listened to any one else when ya might not have even listened to your mom and pop?

My avatar can testify to the fact that this is not always the case. It is a picture of my great-nephew who was born when my niece was 17 years old. She was still living at home and had the entire family at her disposal. Everyone loved her, but she was hard headed and never wanted to listen. Everytime someone suggested something to her, it turned into a war of wills. She would try to argue you to the ground. For instance, a few months before she got pregnant I was telling her that she needed to learn to listen when people are telling her something to try and help her. Just saying that caused an arguement. Why are you telling me this? Why do I need to know this? I do listen when people tell me things. Eventually, I stopped talking because it was evident that she was not going to listen. She could not even see that she was proving my point. When she came up pregnant on month after her High School graduation, it broke my heart. She was my first niece and my favorite. She is just so bright that it is frightening. I told her that I wanted her to study Psychology and she had taken a college course and recieved an "A" while still in High School. She brought the baby's father to her High School graduation. I was aching to get her alone and talk to her, but I didn't get a chance to. Her mom and my older sister always treat me as if I am over-reacting. My sister became a grandmother at 38. I said all of that to say this. You can have your entire family right up under you, but if you do not have enough sense to listen to what they are trying to teach, you might as well be all alone.

I don't think so. I think it has more to do with the person rather than the envoriroment. My family moved to Texas when I was a baby, we didn't grow up with extended family around, but I did all right, both my brother & sister had a little wild time, but were past it by their mid-20's (actually sister was past it by college graduation.) I do think that support is more forthcoming if you do have extended family around, I know someone who's folks were bad & she ended up living with an aunt because she could.

We had a lot of family around - as most of my friends did - and I never thought it made any difference. Of course, I never got into a lot of trouble either. I had other things to do. I did have friends who landed in hot water quite a few times and their family always bailed them out. I don't understand doing that. When people get into trouble, they should have to bail themselves out to learn a lesson.

well both yes and no, it depends on the culture of the nation you are staying in. as much of what I read in mylot, I hear of girls in western nations getting pregnant in highschool itself. I don’t think these girls are living on their own, no they are surrounded by family but maybe there it is nothing surprising to be a mother out of wedlock and at such a tender age. and then there was this 19yr old boy whose mom sold his car when she found alchohol in the boot and THIS created news and many mylotters actually called the mom a bit*ch and supported the fact that the son should have sued the mom since he was above legal age. but here in India even if we are not surrounded by family, unwed mothers would actually find it difficult to rent a house by themselves, and the mortification for the family whose girl has done 'it' before marriage is such, that the very thought is enough to help girls control themselves. tongues still wag in middle-class localities if a girl is found returning home late at night in a drunk condition and similarly for boys (maybe a little less). and the worst part is that people blame the parents and the family for the wild ways of the child and so maintaining the family honour is a great deterrent to leading a rowdy life. so its mainly the fear of gossip and bringing shame unto the family, which help us keep clear of indulgences, even if we are not surrounded by family.

I hadn't thought about it but yes, I think it does to an extent anyway. I know there are a lot of things that I did when I was younger that I would not have done if my parents were around. My mom, especially, was very strict and kind of domineering. I believe that growing up and making my own mistakes made me a better person though.

I hadn't thought about it but yes, I think it does to an extent anyway. I know there are a lot of things that I did when I was younger that I would not have done if my parents were around. My mom, especially, was very strict and kind of domineering. I believe that growing up and making my own mistakes made me a better person though.

I'm sure there are cases where this can help, having family around but certainly don't think it's so in all cases. My family for example - we have almost all of our family nearby but my daughter had her first child out of wedlock at the age of 16 and my youngest son has/is in trouble with the law. I wish all families were like the Waltons where 3 or 4 generations all lived in the same house - but opps even they had some minor problems.

I suppose it could help to keep one in line, depending on the family - some families are more likely to groom one into a life of crime and/or debauchery. my family has also been scattered all over the states, sometimes I think how sweet it would have been to have someone close by to lean on.

Though having a family around may help to some degree, I don't think it helps too much. The reason I say this is because people have their own minds and are going to do what they want to do no matter what type of interaction another family member may have to say about the situation.

Having family nearby can definitely help. But it is not a given. If the family is involved, honest and supportive, they can help. On the other hand if they are univolved, critical or judgemental, they can actually contribute to a person's bad decisions. Family is not the only source of support. Sometimes close friends or a mentor can be just as helpful if not more. This is because they often understand better, because they are or have been in a similar situation. That is true more often with friends than family because we choose our friends, and we naturally gravitate toward people who are like us- have common interests or personality traits.

I live in the states, I have lived in the same city all my life. I am sure I will be living here the rest of my life. I do like living close to my family. I have never understood how people can move so far away from their family. I don't know if living close to family helps you to stay out of trouble or not. I know plenty of people who live close to family and still have gotten in trouble. My 2 sisters live a long way away, I don't like it at all. Some of the grandkids live a half an hiour away, thats too far for me. They have lived all their lives within walking distance of me. I do have some relatives that live all over, I prefer that they were close.

Sometimes it works better to have family around, other times it is a trigger to rebellion. You get into trouble just to spite your family. At one time the image of family shame was enough to keep some kids on the straight and narrow, but anymore they do not seem to care.

Its no guarranty i guess having family around or staying in the family makes the members keep from messing around..it depends on how parents do their respective responsibilities and their attitude on their children..some children are stubborn enough and do their own thing regardless of parents advices...

Most of the time it is believed so. Family help us to keep a control on us. also parents guide us a lot. they show us the right paths most of the times.when you get into troble, they help you to get out of it. i believe in great value of friendship.

In America people scatter about as any other place. Some families in small towns stick together for decades, some families in big towns stick together for decades. I think having family around can keep one for trouble. But I think that wherever my family is, I'm always going to think how something I do could affect them. I live my life as I choose, but I would never do anything to bring shame to my parents. I can't think of anything worse, than to do that to them after they sacrificed so much for me.

I definately think that family and family time is what is important to keep children out of trouble. I mean, for Pete's sake, my children keep me out of trouble. Having mutual support that actually helps, helps us get over those rough patches. Everyone has them, it is how we recover that makes us who we are.