Static intermission is about finding order in chaos. It’s what many of us crave during turbulent times.

According to the Pew Research Center, Americans today are split on the meaning of family. People are more pessimistic than optimistic about the future of families, and fewer see marriage or parenthood as essential to a fulfilling life. What most people do agree on is that “family” now comes in many forms—single parents, blended households, child-free couples, multiracial families, and same-sex partnerships.

That flexibility is healthy.  I can’t help but think that part of the disarray in our society stems from something basic: how well we parent and how well we show up for one another in the most basic ways.

Family is no longer just about blood. It’s about the bonds we choose to nurture. And those bonds aren’t built through titles, careers, political loyalties, or even shared hobbies. They grow through small, everyday actions, such as eating together, celebrating victories, and offering a safe place to land when the world feels brutal. That’s where trust takes root.

I grew up in what I now view as a storybook childhood after World War II. My extended family shielded me from hardship. I lived in a neighborhood that believed in the Constitution, the rule of law, and basked in the moral victory of defeating dictators like Hitler and Mussolini. What I didn’t see and what my community didn’t want to see was that not everyone shared in that safety or equality. Women, minorities, and the poor were often left out of the American dream I took for granted. I never imagined that one day, our own democracy could feel fragile, or that authoritarian voices might rise inside our own borders.

That illusion cracked when I worked at a community mental health hospital. Suddenly, I was face-to-face with pain: teens with unwanted pregnancies, veterans with PTSD, people broken by abuse or random violence. The fairy tale was gone. Life wasn’t fields of flowers and cotton-candy skies. Instead, it was complicated, messy, and often cruel.

But even in the darkest places, I saw something powerful: people who had grown up with love and trust had more resilience. They weren’t immune to tragedy, but they could still see beauty, still find meaning in life, still push through its evil. Family bonds that were strong became lifelines.

So what does a healthy family look like? It’s not about perfection, or having money, or getting every rule right. It’s about raising kids who, by adulthood, can stand on their own,. They are adults who:

• Model empathy, self-control, and healthy boundaries.
• Respect each child as an individual with a voice worth hearing.
• Set fair, consistent expectations that grow with the child.
• Provide safety, not fear. Forgiveness, not grudges.
• Make mistakes—but own them, and keep love unconditional.

Parenting doesn’t end when kids turn eighteen. In many ways, that’s when the hardest work begins. We want to raise independent adults, but we also want to stay connected. That balance, respecting boundaries while maintaining closeness, is where many families stumble.

It’s especially challenging now. Many adult children live states away, pulled by jobs or partners. Technology can help, but Zoom calls and texts aren’t the same as being in the same kitchen. And the political divide has strained even the strongest bonds. Too many family gatherings end with people walking on eggshells or not showing up at all.

But a healthy adult relationship between parent and child is possible. It grows out of the same principles that shape childhood: respect, listening, forgiveness, and unconditional love. That means:

• Respecting privacy and decisions, even when they differ from your own.
• Being financially independent.
• Enjoying each other’s company without turning every visit into a political debate.
• Allowing the relationship to shift from one of authority to one of partnership.

The goal isn’t to preserve childhood forever. It’s to create a bond that can survive distance, disagreement, and change. Because in a world where so much is pulling us apart, family can either fracture or become the thread that holds us together.

That’s why family still matters in this political moment. Authoritarian movements thrive when people feel isolated, powerless, or unloved. Strong families, whether by blood or by choice, are our first defense against fear and manipulation. If we can learn to practice empathy, forgiveness, and resilience at home, we’ll be better prepared to face a divided world with strength and hope.

We can’t predict what the next decade will bring: economic shocks, climate disasters, and political upheavals. What we can do is raise the next generation with the resilience to face it. That resilience doesn’t come from TikTok or political slogans. It comes from family.”

______________________________________________________________________________I look forward to your comments .Did your family raise you to be an independent thinker, a person able to meet difficult challenges and remain resilient? Comment on my blog site.

Static intermission is a 20” by 15” acrylic painting on deep canvas. To purchase. go to https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/5679353/static-intermission#/

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References;

Parker, K. & Minkin,R. (2023) Public Has Mixed Views not he Modern American Family. Pew Research Center. retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/09/14/public-has-mixed-views-on-the-modern-american-family/

Schrader, J. (2023 )6 Characteristics of Healthy Families.Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/invisible-bruises/202304/6-characteristics-of-a-healthy-family

 from 

Sibder, ( 2019)Parenting Adult Children: Five Signs of Healthy Relationships. Sonder Wellness. Retrieved from https://www.sonderwellness.com/blog/2019/04/adult-children/

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Hokama, the hero of The Water Factor, grew up with empathetic parents who valued community over personal wealth. His physician mother assists low-income and indigenous families, and his father, an attorney, provides free services to a Native American Reservation. Their views helped shape the activist Hokama became, and gave him the courage to fight an egregious corporate crime. 

A Firebird International Award winner for Best Dystopian Novel and a Literary Titan recipient for Best Thriller, available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats. Available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s Books, and Annie Bloom’s Books, and on audiobook platforms such as Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.