Transportation Affecting Family’s Lives

Transportation Affecting Family’s Lives

Image via Wikipedia

            The invention of transportation has affected our lives tremendously and over time it has had consequences on a family’s ability to love, care and spend time with one another. Looking at the invention of trains, planes and automobiles while a tremendous asset to the business industries, allowing farmer to move their products further west or north; while others companies were able to travel to expand business to the east and south; but has anyone thought about how it has affected family life.

            During holiday seasons, or family crises, our advancement of transportation has caused these times to be even more stressful than in the past. While some family members may be nearby, more and more families are finding that their love ones are moving further and further apart. While one family member can be living in New York, a sibling may be in California, while mom and dad live in South Carolina, which makes family gatherings and traditions a thing of the past. To be surrounded by family, passing down traditions and learning about a generation before us is slowly being forgotten, the knowledge our grandparents use to impart upon us is lost; being replaced by friends and computer games.

Image via Wikipedia

            There was a time a family was tight knitted, they usually lived within a mile of one another, they treated their aunt and uncles as parents; while grandparents were able to spend time not only with their own children and grandchildren, but with their nieces and nephews. Many grandchildren see their grandparents two or three times a year, while many cousins barely know each other; and Aunts and Uncles have been replaced with close family friends. While it is said that friends are family that we chose, it is sad that making plans to visit Aunts’ or grandparents requires one to clear their calendar, as make a “date” to visit.

            To totally blame transportation is unfair, there is the economy to consider since now both parents are working, some are even working a second job, while others are moving to where their job sends them, or where there is more money. Many are moving where the weather is more to their liking, and the dollar goes further in such economic hard times.

            Had it not been for the invention of transportation none of these things would have come to pass, and families would still have the cozy family life. While many people say they are close to family even though they may be many miles apart; the fact is, it is not true!

Image via Wikipedia

The relationships that are built by spending time together, the laughter and sadness; can never compete with a telephone call. It is just not the same, and for many of us, our children will never know the closeness we had with our Aunts and Uncles or our grandparents and cousins.
Four Generation of a family, together.

Image via Wikipedia