There is a joke in Germany that depicts the differences between Germans and French people in their pursuit of life. It is said that one day God suddenly came to earth, gave a German and a Frenchman a piece of land of the same size, and said to them, I will come to see you again in ten years. Ten years later, when God came to earth again, the Germans had built houses and comfortable homes on that land, while the land next to the French was still empty, while I was sunbathing in shorts and humming a little song.
Family is the cell of German society. German society is stable because these cells are healthy and normal. Although the tide of "sexual openness" and "sexual freedom" has swept across Europe since the 1960s, which has impacted families, it has failed to shake the basic ranks of traditional German families.
In the past, China people had some misunderstandings about western families. They thought that in western families, children grew up and ignored their parents, so the old people had a bleak evening. According to observation, at least this is not the case with German family view. Germans are more realistic, their children grow up, their parents get old and their living habits are different. Therefore, both sides are willing to live separately, each with its own place, and it is rare for three or four generations to live together. But this does not mean that children will not care about the elderly and will not have family happiness. Children often visit their parents on weekdays. If the elderly need medical care and work, their children will go all out and work tirelessly. In Germany, the elderly have old-age insurance, a fixed income, no need to help their children economically, and are relatively independent.
In dealing with family relations, Germans emphasize independence, self-esteem and respect for others' wishes, and rely less on each other. This is not only reflected in dealing with the relationship with the elderly, but also in the attitude towards children. They are very strict with their children, rarely give in, and will not spoil them. After the baby was born, he spent most of his time lying in the stroller, and his parents never hugged and patted him. Grow up a little, toddler, fall to the ground, your parents won't help you, you have to get up and walk again. In the evening, after watching the children's TV program at 7 o'clock, the children should go to bed. Parents have no role in entertaining guests or going out to the theatre at night. This method of raising children is also a major feature of German families.
It should be said that the attitude of Germans towards marriage and family is serious and cynicism is condemned. But this does not prevent them from acknowledging the reality of unmarried cohabitation. This may be related to the pragmatic tradition of the Germans. Because marriage has many legal problems and property problems, but unmarried cohabitation is much simpler. Many unmarried couples in Germany are also loving and loving for a long time.