Parenting & Families Chapter 1

What is Parenting? Parenting is: A way of providing care, support, and love in a way that leads to a child’s total development Parenting involves meeting the child’s physical, mental, emotional, and social needs Caregiver- people in care giving roles who care for and guide children

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

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

All Kinds of Families Biological parents- children are born to Adoptive parents- accept legal responsibility for children who were born to them as their own. Step parents- when one of their parents remarries Legal guardians– a court appointed person who has the legal and financial responsibility of taking care of a child. Foster families—takes care of children on a temporary basis

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 (nuclear). Children living in extended families including other people such as uncles, cousins, aunts or grandparents. Children living in one-parent (single) families. 8 million 10 million 15 million 33 million 1997 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 Structures Nuclear Family- a mother, a father, and one or more children Extended family-relatives other than parents and children which include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins Single-parent- single parents may or may not have help from other family members Blended family- when a single parent marries. It can include each spouse’s children from previous marriages, as well as new children of the couple

Family Life Cycle Stage 1: Individual Stage 2: Marriage A person develops career skills, takes responsibility for his or her own care, and learns to make financial decisions. Stage 2: Marriage Couple blend their expectations, values, and vision of the future. Learn commitment and mutual goals. Stage 3: Childbearing Learn to meet children physical and emotional needs while continuing to take care of themselves. Stage 4:Parenting Meeting the needs of children

Family Life Cycle Continued... Stage 5:Launching From the time the oldest child leaves the family for independent adult life till the time the last child leaves. Stage 6: Middle Years From the time the children are gone till the marital couple retires from employment. Stage 7: Senior Years From retirement till the death of the surviving marriage partner. People look back at their lives.

American Family Forms Living Alone Marrying Later in Life 1 of 24 adults remain single throughout their life. 66% of single people are women. 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 Continued 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 Continued Again 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.

Almost to the End of 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.

The End of 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.

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?

Functions of the Family For physical safety and shelter For love, affection, and emotional support For raising children in a stable setting For economic stability For comfort and support when family members become aged or ill

A Healthy Family Express love and acceptance Spends time together Shows Trust Shows Respect Establishes traditions Communicates Resolve conflicts Asks for assistance