Family Forms “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.” Thomas Jefferson

DRAW A PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU LIVE WITH

Millions of Kids Family Type Number of Children Children living in blended families, including either a step-parent or step-sibling. Children living with both natural parents and full brothers or sisters. Children living in extended families including other people such as uncles, cousins, aunts or grandparents. Children living in one-parent (MOM only) families. Children living in one-parent (DAD only) families. 8 million 3.6 million 7 million 17 million 42 million 2006 statistics

Flexibility, adaptability and tolerance for change are helpful skills for making family life terrific!

Relationship What? Who? They are constantly changing. An interaction between two or more people. Who? Parents, siblings, peers, spouse, grandparents They are constantly changing. An individual is going through various stages of his life cycle while the family is going through its cycle.

Family Life Cycle Childbearing Family 0-2 1/2 years old Leaving Home Family with Preschoolers 2 ½ - 6 yrs Empty Nest Launching Center marriage Parenting Retirement Independence Family with School Children 6 -13 yrs old Parenting adolescents 14-20 yr old Summarizes the average ages at which people complete normal life stages. Changes occur in the family life cycle as the oldest child grows.

Analyze Financial Consideration relevant to each stage of the life cycle Responsibilities and concerns Effects upon Husband and Wife relationship Life Cycle of Financial Planning from FEFE http://fefe.arizona.edu/curriculum.php?categoryID=13#38

Family Life Cycle Stage 1: Beginning Family The married couple establish their home but do not yet have children. Stage 2: Childbearing Family From the birth of the first child until that child is 3 ½ years old. Stage 3: Family with Preschoolers When the oldest child is between the ages of 3 ½ and 6. Stage 4: Family with School Children When the oldest child is between the ages of 6 and 13.

Family Life Cycle Continued... Stage 5: Family with Teenagers When the oldest child is between the ages of 13 and 20. Stage 6: Launching Center From the time the oldest child leaves the family for independent adult life till the time the last child leaves. Stage 7: Empty Nest From the time the children are gone till the marital couple retires from employment. Stage 8: Aging Family From retirement till the death of the surviving marriage partner.

Write down your definition of the traditional family. Working dad Stay-at-home mom 2 or 3 children Only 10% of all households are in this family form.

American Family Forms Living Alone POSSLQs Marrying Later in Life 1 of 24 adults remain single throughout their life. 66% of single people are women. POSSLQs Persons of the opposite sex sharing living quarters. Couples who live together before marriage, have an increased risk of divorce compared to those who marry first. Marrying Later in Life Average age to marry: men - 25.9, women - 23.6 More young people are not marrying or are marrying later.

American Family Forms Couples Having Children Later in Life More couples are waiting to become parents until their careers are established. Estimated cost to raise child is $200,000 Couples With Fewer Children The average number of children has dropped from 3.6 in 1957 to 1.8. Couples With No Children Due to career commitments, fertility problems or just because they enjoy their childless lifestyles, many couples are remaining “Double Income, No Kids” couples.

American Family Forms Divorced Adults Approximately 60% of all divorces involve couples with children in the home. Single-Parent Families About 1 in 4 children live with only one parent. The number of single-parent homes has more than doubled in the past 20 years Divorced women’s standard of living drops 73%, while divorced men jumps 42%. About 50% of the children in divorced families report having not seen their father in the last year and only 1 of 6 see him once a week.

American Family Forms Grown Children Moving In With Their Parents Families with two children and young parents living at home with their parents has doubled in 25 years. Grandparents Living With Families With greater longevity, there are more elderly people. Blended Families Divorced parents, especially fathers are likely to remarry. 13% of today’s children are stepchildren Flexibility and humor will assist in the adjustment.

American Family Forms Working Mothers The fastest growing segment of the work force is women with children under the age of three. More than half of American mothers with infants less than a year old are working outside the home. Day care for these children can cost up to ¼ the family budget. Working mothers have 15 fewer hours of leisure a week than fathers.

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Scenarios Your marriage is headed for divorce. How would you settle property, child custody, divorce costs? You are a single mother. How will you cope emotionally and financially? Elderly parents need to move in with you. What conflicts and adjustments will arise? You just remarried. How will family discipline be handled? How will household chores be divided? What name do you expect the children to call you? Where should you live? How should you divide physical space?

How Strong Is Your Family? Traditions Have this completed for next class period.

Family Forms Quiz