Family Relationships and The New Normal

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on all individuals and their families around the world. There have been challenges that have surfaced in all walks of life and they might have a long-lasting impact on countless families and the dynamics between them. At the macro level, every single country, be it a developed country or a developing country, witnessed their healthcare systems collapse under the stress of the epidemic. The education, healthcare and governance sectors, three pillars of any civilization, were forced to reevaluate and drastically change their functioning and operations. In the field of work, almost all sectors came to a halt during the first wave of the pandemic. Once the first wave was overcome, the new norms started forming. These new norms included working from home, flexible work-hours and changes in stereotypical gender roles. Usage and dependency on technology and communication devices sky-rocketed. Only the Information Technology sector did not have to change as drastically; all the other sectors had to go through mass layoffs and salary deductions. At the micro level, a shift in the family structure was also witnessed. Even with all of these struggles and challenges, most people have persevered and survived through the pandemic. They have found ways to manage their lives around the pandemic and they have adjusted to the new norm. With all the new changes in lives of people, Nurture-Encourage-Wish is a possible way forward.