The Changing Family

FAMILY: A group of 2 or more people who live together and/or are related by blood or marriage

Function of a family Emotional support Financial support A place for love and belonging Socialization Learning

AMERICAN FAMILIES *LIVING ALONE* 60% are Women 1 out of 24 will remain single for life

AMERICAN FAMILIES *POSSLQ’S* Persons of the opposite sex sharing living quarters without marriage Divorce just as often as those who marry

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Marrying Later in Life* Men: age 26 Women: age 24

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Couples Having Kids Later in Life* Cost of rearing a child from birth through college has been estimated at ½ million dollars

AMERICAN FAMILIES *COUPLES WITH FEWER CHILDREN* Average number of children per family is 2

AMERICAN FAMILIES *COUPLES WITH NO CHILDREN* “Double Income- No kids”

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Divorced Adults* More we expect from the marriage the higher our chances of divorce 60% of all divorces involve kids

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Single Parent Family* 1 in 4 children live with only 1 parent Standard of living for women drops 73% Ex-husband’s standard jumps 42% Most have joint custody

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Single Parent Family* ½ of all children have NOT seen father in the last year 1 in 6 see their father once a week Most do NOT receive child support Work, childcare, money, and time are a challenge

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Grown Children Moving Back In With Parents* 54% of year olds lived with parents WHY? Divorce, unemployment, never- married, increasing age of first marriage, high cost of living, low entry salary

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Grown Children Moving Back In With Parents* Problems? Coming and going(44%) Cleaning and maintenance(49%) Use of household resources (36%) Mealtime (33%) Money and spending (31%) Friends (23%) Rent (21%) BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN SUFFER

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Grandparents Moving In* Usually grandma Usually requires care 4 million victims of Alzeimer’s “Sandwich generation”

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Blended Family* Fathers are likely to remarry 13% of today’s children are step children ADVANTAGES: New couple has more time alone, Relationships are precious, negotiation and compromise, learn to let go, more role models, earning potential is doubled

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Blended Family* CHALLENGES: Emotional difficulties 2 years for couple to adjust, 4-5 years for family oneness, more difficult with older children, identity change, social isolation, difficulty letting child and new step parent develop a relationship

AMERICAN FAMILIES *Blended Family* MUST deal with emotional pain and scars of 1 st marriage before entering into another relationship New traditions, rules, & extended relationships PATIENCE is critical to the success of any remarriage

AMERICAN FAMILIES *WORKING MOTHERS* Day care can cost ¼ of family budge Usually still does majority of housework and kids Women have 15 fewer leisure hours a week than men

AMERICAN FAMILIES *WORKING MOTHERS* SOLUTIONS: Stay at home Work from home Mr. Mom The mommy track

AMERICAN FAMILIES 9 of 10 people continue to live in households as family 9 of 10 young adults do marry 3 of 4 of those divorce will remarry Majority of those who marry will have kids