Unfortunately many changes in our lifestyles over the years in New Zealand have been very damaging to family unity and of course to the stability of our society.
Only a few changes need to be mentioned. Some of us remember the days when the piano was very popular in many homes and the gathering of all the family and even visitors for a sing song was very popular indeed. Common evening family pastimes included the playing of card games such as euchre, five hundred, and crib. Other games such as draughts, chess, dominoes and even snakes and ladders were very popular.In days gone by it was common for the whole family to picnic together, to holiday together, and even go to the movies and concerts together.
Yes times have certainly changed. We now have the most unstable society we have ever had, including ever increasing crime, all kinds of so called marriages, partners threatening to become more common than spouses, more and more people depending upon government benefits for any reason at all, and on a wider front we are readily joining into global warfare besides destroying our civilization in many other ways.
Probably all this is foreign to you in your part of the world. Thank your lucky stars!


