Family Matters

Spaniards and their families have very close relationships. They are often so close that in some cases children don’t move out of their homes until they are in their late twenties and are getting ready to be married. Another example of their tight-knit relationships is that whether it is 10 o’clock in the morning or 10 o’clock at night, you will always see young families out and about with their children and babies. I think this speaks a lot about their relationships. There are very few cases where a child is not cared for by either their parents or by grandparents or other close relatives. There are few nurseries in the city of Salamanca and any outside care isn’t used until it is time to begin socializing with other children their age at pre-school. Also, most weekends, and occasionally weekdays, are spent with family at get-togethers and other functions. The parents of my Senora would make a 4 hour trip every other weekend just to spend a few hours with their family. I saw this as true love and dedication, because I know a lot of people back home that hardly see their grandparents that much even if they live right down the road from them. Also, my Senora would be sure to spend time, even if it was short, with her girls every day to catch up and make sure they are doing okay. These close families account for the way Spaniards look at life. Family comes first to them before all else, and they will do anything for each other.