Life Cycle: Stages a family passes through at different points in time “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”

Roles & Responsibilities Make decisions together about careers, home, where to live and whether they want to have children Learn to manage finances and household responsibilities

Relationship Changes Expressing individuality while working well together as a couple results in a strong marriage Couple must learn to communicate with each other

Roles & Responsibilities Provide safe, loving & organized environment Responsible for physical, emotional, social, financial, intellectual & ethical needs of children Children require a great deal of time, leaving little time for other things

Relationship Changes Transition from couple to family Children benefit when parents have strong relationship Must compromise for the good of the family Divorce and extramarital affairs often occur during the raising of small children when the parents have not learned proper life skills. Can be a very rewarding, happy time, even with all of its challenges.

Roles & Responsibilities Encourage teen to be creative and independent. Support teen as they experiment with different thoughts, beliefs and styles. Establish boundaries for your teenager, but encourage exploration at the same time. Strive for a balanced atmosphere in which your teenager has a sense of support and emotional safety as well as opportunities to try new behaviors.

Relationship Changes Parenting teens can test relationship skills Families that function best during this period have strong, flexible relationships developed through good communication, problem solving, mutual caring, support, and trust. Your strengths as an individual and as part of a couple are critical as you deal with the increasing challenges of raising a teenager. Meet own individual needs and maintain relationship with spouse.

Roles & Responsibilities Children may now be off to post-secondary or work Continue to encourage independence Emotional support is still needed Financial support may be needed This stage will lengthen if child comes back home to live A parent's focus shifts from the maturing teen to career and relationship. May take on new role as Grandparents and may need to include in-laws

Relationship Changes Couple adjust to their empty nest Can be emotionally difficult for couple Requires re-negotiation of marriage More time to focus on their own relationship, interests, hobbies Couple may have to assume responsibility to care for their own aging parents (=sandwich generation)

Roles & Responsibilities Support children as they go through family life cycle Dealing with the loss of our spouse, siblings, and peers and the preparation for own death and the end of their generation Interdependence of family roles

Relationship Changes Function as couple in face of physiological decline