There’s deeper meaning to the phrase ‘nuclear family’ than most expect. For not only does the term accurately describe the shape of families—i.e. children circling about their parents, we’re also able to glean a host of additional insights to family dynamics through an atom’s internal relationships.

Take for instance what nucleons at the heart of an atom tell us about the relationship of husband and wife at the core of a family. In this instance ‘man and woman’ come together in powerful bonds of love (whose mighty bond is reflected in the contract and social expectations of marriage), not much unlike the incredible forces that bind protons and neutrons at the center of an atom.

And like the incredible nuclear force that bonds protons and neutrons, the bond of love is very powerful keeping us aligned, yearning, and drawn towards one another. So strong in fact, that breaking the bonds of marriage through a divorce can feel as volatile as the feiry released when atoms are split in a nuclear blast!

Further insights toward bolstering one’s marriage comes from the incredible spatial relationship between neutrons and protons at the core of atoms. Here the nuclear force serves to maintain neutrons and protons at exactly the ‘right’ distance apart—repulsing them if they get too close together and likewise, attracting them if they get too far apart.

This phenomena exactly reflects the sentiments of the lyrics “hold on loosely, but never let go. If you cling too tightly, you’ll lose control” which describes balanced relationships as maintaining just the right ‘distance’. An illuminating atomic parallel for those wishing to keep their relationship in check!

A great example of center dynamics organizing nature and man in the same ways!