It has long been recognised that families are the foundation of society. It is taken as a fact that strong families lead to responsible citizens, who in turn form a healthy society.

This week we celebrate International Family Day, which may be the appropriate time to reflect on this family nucleus that has been a fundamental part of our lives since the beginning of mankind, but which is changing at a very rapid pace.

Irrespective of how many changes families face, I can safely say that the family must remain the safe haven where family members feel loved by their dear ones around them.

Up until now, the traditional family model, that includes the involvement of the extended family, is still very much in existence. So far, the extended family is still available to help out when the need arises. Our parents have a crucial role when it comes to taking care of our children when we are at work. But this is also changing, as grandparents themselves are pursuing their own careers and such support will continue to be on the decline.

Without this kind of support, family life is going to be more difficult. So-called “family time” has become an issue. With both parents and children leading very busy lives, the time dedicated for the family to spend together is being eaten away. Such time has been reduced to a slot in overstretched schedules and conflicting agendas and ideas are leading families to go their separate ways.

And in fact we have to acknowledge that this new family set-up is on the increase. These new lifestyles pose new challenges not only to families but also to society.

Although it is not an easy task, families need to overcome such difficulties. The assistance of third parties may at times be of paramount importance. To alleviate these problems, the agency Appogg offers a sterling service to families who may need assistance in times of crisis, especially when children are involved.

In daily life, finding the right balance can also be very stressful, and family-friendly measures at the place of work can also help reduce some of this stress, as couples can hit the right balance between work and family life.

Families face various difficulties but when there is illness or disability, the trauma can also lead to other problems, including those of a financial nature. Social benefits are continuously being refined to address the needs of those who genuinely need them.

Other services worth mentioning are Home Start and Smart Kids. The Home Start programme is carried out by parents who have voluntarily undergone a training programme to be able to help other parents acquire the necessary skills to care for their own children. Smart Kids, on the other hand, is a day-centre for children aged up to three years. This programme also offers the parents of these children an opportunity to develop their parental skills.

Services and benefits may help alleviate particular problems, but couples need an inner strength to face these new challenges. Unfortunately, we do not have role models, as our parents’ roles in the family were very different. It may be necessary for couples to learn new skills, not only to live together as a couple but even as parents. As parents today we are facing new challenges, some of them brought about by fast-developing technologies.

For a long time we have been hearing about children’s rights but it is about time that we also hear about children’s responsibilities, otherwise these same children who are tomorrow’s adults will be unaware that they have obligations and responsibilities as well as rights.

Even in this regard, the parents’ authority, that used to be taken for granted, seems to be questioned. Nowadays, managing a family seems to need countless multi-skilling.

The traditional family as we know it is being besieged from all sides and we are seeing new trends and new set-ups of families. Notwith- standing all this, the basic values on which family life is built should remain in focus. The family, in whatever form, will and must always remain the bedrock of our society.

For families to remain so, there is a need for sound collaboration between the government, NGOs and the families themselves, to achieve the healthy environment desirable for our families to flourish in.

Michelle Mallia is president of the Nationalist Party’s Women’s Movement