The importance of the parental dyad in the process of incorporating nonviolence in the family canot be overemphasized. At the very least, either unwittingly or helplessly, parents stood by as a pattern of family violence began to establish itself. Sometimes, because of a reluctance to discipline children, or the inability to do so, parents did not respond appropriately when the children began to act out in violent ways.
More often than not, the parents themselves come from families where a system of violence was already firmly established. When this is the case, the time has come to put an end to that vicious circle that has become their unwelcome heritage!
In the interesting dynamic of choosing a mate, often people accustomed to violence in intimate relationship will find each other, marry, and start a violent family. When the need to develop a nonviolent relationship presents itself, maybe even late into their relationship, one of the very attractive assets the couple had found in each other will no longer serve. This is bound to put a strain on the couple, who now have to discover other things to love about their beloved.
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