Family Life Cycle
Beginning Family Newlyweds Establishing Home Building Marriage Relationship
Child-bearing Family Couple prepares for and adjusts to parenthood
Parenting Family Children are growing Parents work to meet children’s changing needs and help them develop independence
Launching Family Children gradually leave home to support themselves Parents help children adapt to life on their own
Mid-Years Family Couple renews their relationship Prepares for retirement Sometimes called the “empty-nest” stage
Aging Family Over 65 Stops full time work Retired Adjusts to having more free time
Variations in the Life Cycle Individuals who decide not to marry Individuals whose die or leave spouses Couples choose not to, or find out they are unable to have children
Variations in the Life Cycle Families skip, overlap, or repeat stages – this creates new sequences Families have additional children several years after their first group of children Second marriages – families blend, stages are repeated Families create extended families by bringing aging relatives into their home.