A family usually consists of a mother,father and children,who live together in one home. A functioning family should provide: protection,education,help and security to all its members. All family members have some duties and responsibilities. Parents should teach their children what is good and bad,how to solve the problems in life. Democratic parents talk with their children and respect them. Strict parents do not make compromises,which often creates a generation gap between them and their own children. Modern European families are monogamous.Many young people live together in the same house but are not husband and wife. This is called cohabitation. The wedding is a formal act and it takes in a town hall or in church. Nowadays many couple are divorced. Their frequent reasons for divorce are problems with trust,money,alcohol,drugs,gambling and unemployment. When one of the parents dies,children stay with a single parent. A woman who loses her husband is called a widow and man a widower. When they get married agaim,the new parents are called step-parents.Family life  is different all around the world. In Slovakia many families meet together for special days,such as birthdays,weddings,feasts and funerals. A family a real home and relatives are what we need for life. They always help us when we need them.