The Family - Part II

People of Guatemala - The Functions of the Family
The Importance of the Fulfillment of the Family Responsibilities

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FATHER
The father is the main source of income for the expenses of the home as well as the maintenance. He is guide and mentor to all the children and especially to the sons. He instructs and passes on the moral values and forms and disciplines the children.
The father is responsible to accumulate and form the family assets and inheritance, manage it and pass it on to the descendants.
The father has to watch for the harmony and well-being of the home and that it may have access to the basic services.
He strives to have enough education to be able to have access to more work opportunities.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MOTHER
The mother cares for and educates the children. She teaches and passes on the knowledge and values of the culture, trains the children in cleanliness, orderliness, and to respect and help each other.
She is in charge of administering the economy and the running of the household, making sure that no member of the family lacks anything. She contributes to the economic welfare of the family when necessary.
The mother is vigilant to see who are the friends and companions of her children and warns them against bad choices and encourages good ones. The children get their first values and knowledge from their mother.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OLDER SON
When the older son is grown, he assumes some of the responsibilities of the father when he is absent or passes away.
He consults with the family when dealing with diverse situations or problems. He is to take care of and ensure the well-being of the mother and younger brothers and sisters and make an effort to keep the family together.
He maintains and makes the necessary repairs around the house.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OLDER SISTER
The oldest sister substitutes when the mother is absent so the younger children must respect her. She feeds and cleans the younger ones and guides them to repect their parents and to do everything well. The older sister becomes an example to follow to the younger children.
She helps to keep control of the family expenses. If the mother is still alive, the older daughter helps in an around of the house.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE YOUNGER BROTHERS AND SISTERS
The younger brothers and sisters do the minor chores around the house and run errands for the parents. They also are in charge of caring for and helping the grandparents especially when they live with the family.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GRANDPARENTS
The grandparents keep the history and the wisdom of the family and of the community and pass it on to their children and granchildren by giving them advice. They tell them the old stories and legends of the community as they also contain wisdom and knowledge. They advise the children and guide them to maintain a harmonious family and community life. They make sure that the cultural values and norms of good behavior are fulfilled and they try to maintain alive the language, culture and traditions.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AUNTS AND UNCLES
The aunts and uncles function as the eyes and ears of the parents in the community. They make the parents aware of any bad behaviour on the part of the nieces and nephews in the community so that the parents can correct them. If the parents fail to do so, they intervene.
They serve as advisors and counselors for the solution of family problems.
If their brothers or sisters get sick or die, they take care of the minor children and they help the family make the funeral arrangements as well as provide moral support during the period of mourning. They also help in the marriage arrangements of the nieces and nephews.

Prensa Libre, August 23, 2011, Superlamina 4/16 “Pueblos de Guatemala”