1. Family Life Cycle

2. Background Data
The family life cycle was suggested by Evelyn Duvall in 1948
There are EIGHT stages in the full family life cycle.
The family life cycle begins with marriage and ends with the death of the first spouse.

3. Reality Check
In “real life” , a family might be in several stages at one time!
Not all families fit the traditional life cycle
Late in life marriage
Child free families
Divorced families
Single Parent families
Blended/ Blending Families

4. STAGE 1: Beginning Families
Begins with marriage
Lasts an average of 2-3 years
Time of greatest marital satisfaction
Struggles:
Establishing intimacy without losing autonomy
Adjusting ties with family of orientation
Establishing roles in marriage

5. STAGE 2: Childbearing Families
Begins with the birth of the first child and continues until that child is 2 ½ years old.
Last 2 ½ years
Marital satisfaction begins to decline
Struggles:
Attention/Focus may shift from mate to child
Infant care is taxing/ overwhelming

6. STAGE 3: Childrearing: Preschoolers
Begins with the oldest child is 2 ½ and lasts until that child is 6 years old.
Lasts about three years.
Struggles:
Coping with demands of active children
Less marital privacy

7. STAGE 4: Childrearing: School Age
Begins when the oldest child is 6 and last until that child is 13.
Average length is 7 years.
Struggles:
Less time for the self/ involvement in child’s activities
Educational issues/ conflicts may occur
Parenting role changes as child attends school all day.

8. STAGE 5: Childrearing: Adolescents
Begins when the oldest child is 13 and lasts until that child is 20 years old
Lasts about 7 years
Marital Satisfaction is at its lowest.
Struggles:
Coping with independence of children/ letting go
Developing interests outside of children
Sandwich generation (caring for an aging parent and children at the same time)

9. STAGE 6: Launching Stage
Begins when the first child leaves the home and ends when the last child leaves the home.
Divorce is an increased risk at this stage.
Lasts about 8 years
Marital satisfaction may begin to rise.
Grandparenting may begin
Struggles:
Finding commonality with partner without children
Re-establishing identity
BOOMERANG may occur (when adult children move back home)

10. STAGE 7: Families in the Middle Years
Begins with the exit of the last child and lasts until retirement.
Officially the “empty nest” stage
Marital satisfaction heightens further
Struggles:
Age related illnesses may begin
Caretaking roles for grandchildren,
parents, and spouses may be taxing.

11. STAGE 8: Aging Families
Begins with retirement and ends with the death of one or both spouses.
Stage may last thirty or more years
Members often heavily involved in grandparenting.
Marital satisfaction is very high.
Struggles:
Income may be low
Health of one or both spouses
Eventual loss of independence may occur
Coping with death of life partner

12. “Love doesn’t make the world go ‘round
“Love doesn’t make the world go ‘round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”
F. P. Jones