What is a "normal" family? Is love enough?

A very relevant question for the present day parenting. You have covered almost all the situations. I will put my opinion here. being a father of 2 kids and having been brought up in a family of 6 children i feel i am eligible to view those i feel right. Love alone may not make a person. A child requires besides love, guidance,discipline,company , support,good moral advice and all those ingredients that would make up a matured person.I do not want to comment on those cases of gay and lesbians family since my family concept is different. I have seen the difference in my kids who lives in a nucleus family of 2+2 , and the kids of the past who lived in a joint family. They were more adjustable, compassionate, sacrificial and supportive. today things are different they do not want to share food,rooms or anything. they tend to be selfish , and self centered.I had the best company in my grand father who taught me many a practical lessons for life. Today's kid miss all those luxuary and are happy with themselves.I do not know what kind of parents will they be in future? I am waiting to witness!!

I dont think love is enough in any family. Children need love, guidance, a moral compas, trust, and Values. I dont think that a heterosexual couple has or gives more than that of a homosexual union. However within that family unit we give and we take lessons without even realizing it. In a perfect owrld love would be enough but today it's just not. Children do need to know that thier families will love them no matter what they do, but they also have to realize that there are many other componants to making a functional person, and functional family. Love is the begining.

As an adoptee I know that family isn't just blood relatives. I think love is the key ingredient for sure. Certain things can make it easier for a child growing up and may help them adapt better but sometimes the typical family just isn't possible. I think the child can still grow up happy and stable with plenty of love.

I would say as long as the child's family loves them and teaches them right from wrong, there is no difference what kind of a family they grow up in. Whether it is a mother and a father, a single-parent family, or some other combination, what really matters is how the family in question treats and raises their child. If they show them love and watch after them, and don't just let things like the television and computer and videogames be their child's babysitter, then the child is likely to grow up and become a wonderful member of society. On the other hand, there are plenty of conventional families with a mother and father where the parents are _not_ parenting their children properly and treating them with love. So I don't think that 'normal' is what matters. How the child is raised is what matters.

Children need and mother, and father, and their LOVE. This is quite enught for normal family. It is normal to see granparents may 2-3 times a week, but to live with them if and the parents are there i think will be hard. In most times parents and grandparents opinions dont match.

yes, i certainly beleive that love is enough and nothing else is required... where love exist, everything else will start pouring in automatically... love makes the world go round...

The life can impart knowledge and experience to a child if different generations live together. The child can interact and learn with various people of the same gene if there are grand parents, parents,uncles,aunts live together.It is natural for a child to get more confidence with the people of the same genes. But these days it is difficult to aspire to have a family like this. Hence we should try to live together husband and wife and provide the child it's birth rights of getting a family atmosphere.

Love is being a family. It doesn't matter what the situation is as long as their is love there is a family bond. I consider my friends and there kids family. The old saying it takes a community to raise a child. Parents can't do it alone. We don't have all the answers. It is each and every person a child meets that teaches them. They learn something from every person they meet. We all need to know we are loved by someone. I have had my grandchildren live in my home at points in there lives and it was a great help to my daughter I know. It takes great communication on everyone that lives together or it doesn't work.

To answer the basic question, a "normal" family to me would a mum, dad, child(ren) butthat doesn't mean that any other kind of family isn't normal or isn't a family. I currently have a partner and 2 children, only one of those children is my partners, and both of y children love each other very much. I was a single mum in between breaking up with my first childs dad and getting together with my current partner, and my children still got all they needed. They were loved, they had affection and attention, they were fed and clothed. So, in that sense, a "normal" family can consist of anyone. In my opinion, I don't think it is healthy for children to live with grandparents, well, I mean with parents as well as grandparents. I lived with my mum and dad with my kids for a bit and it was very uncomfortable so, I don't know if that was just my family, there might be people who would get on really well to liver like that. But, I think whoever is in your family doesn't matter. It is "what" is in the family which makes it a family, not "who". I'm sure this has been said millions of times before but a child with one loving parent is better off than a child with two parents who can't give the child the emotional things they need.

In my view a normal family is one where u have the love of a male figure and a female figure. It's not necessary that they have to be ur natural parents. beacuse the balance of male and female in a family allows a child to have a somewhat normal and stable family environment.

Most of the things which you have mentioned in your discussions are OK. Children need people of their age and grandparents. How they enjoy matters most. They don't care with whom they stay but love is needed.

hmmm lots of questions!! I think that love is an essential part of a family but is love enough?I guess not....Love is an essential part but not the only part of a family..... children need proper happy environment,good etiquettes and all other things which they learn from their parents....I think a normal marriage is much more better and i am not very sure of homosexual marriages But living with grandparents i don't think is a problem rather it is helpful in a way that grandparents help grow grandchildren better,they share experiences,they let u know whats god and whats not so there isnt a problem

A normal family is not only the people who live in the family, but the time they spent together and the affection that each one has on the other. A family without such affection cannot be said a family at all. Also every family must eat together atleast once a today which would definitely be a mind-relaxing one.

no love is not enough for childern we should give them freedom to do every thing and family should not provide every thing at one place but make them aware about the environment in which they are living or going to live, as the changes are occuring day by day ,so the family should provide them with all sort of information which a child may need in his future .

Children need love, affection,guidance and role model ina family.The man of the family can become role model for boy and women a model for girls.This is not possible in a gay family.But In case of a single parent,God gives strength for children and the single parent to cope with,if their situation is as per the will of God. Grandparent give overaffection maostly and children gets pampered in most cases.Parents cam only enforce true discipline.

Well love is very important. I know in todays society there are many different forms that make a family unit. I personally think a child needs two parents, but sometimes that isn't possible. I think as long as you instill morals and beliefs and kindness into your children..that is good. They need to learn from you the parents. You need to show them that you are living responsibly if you want them to as well. I think that you need to teach them right from wrong and be there for them every step of the way...

I say that love is the success in all families. I am a single mother and i raise my daughters with so much love and care. They see their dad now and then when we cab figure out times for them to visit. They always want to come home and they love me very much. We have a special bond and since i am mother and father i have to try extra hard in making sure that they are loved!!!

every primary thing child learn is from home , family shouldgive child to proper guides and care that he needs . love is importent but some time u should get serious for their future

i am a mother of 4 my youngest daughter is a special needs child and i can say no love is not enough each child you will love differently and each child comes equiped with their own needs some need more affection than others and some will need more dicipline and others will take more patience and time than others we should learn to all except each others as an independant being rather than a group i know some adults which need more attention and understanding than my special needs child ggod luck and lost of love and time

Love is not enought i live with my mother and love is not enought.children need to be understand and help they need to talk with someoane they can trust parents have to be first best friends to their children and then parents.A child can react from the problems in his familly.And a child need to live with his parents and need a person that they can trust.Now a live alone because i'm in college and it is hard to be far away from home sometimes i need a person that i trust ,with i can talk about my personal problems and who can give me advices? no one but my mother can because is a person that i trust and she understand me.So what children whant's is to have his life and support from his familly to go over his problems