1. The Family Life Cycle Young Adulthood Beginning Family – New Couple
Childbearing Family – Preschool Children
Family with School Age Children
Family with Adolescents
Launching Family – Young Adults
Family in Later Life

2. Young Adulthood Leaving home Intimate relationships with peers
Establishing self in worklife, career, vocation
Explore faith on own and with peers

3. Beginning Family – New Couple
Adjusting to roles of husband and wife
Realigning relationships with family of origin & friends to include spouse
Learning to worship, pray together

4. Childbearing Family – Preschool Children
Accepting new members and adjusting the marital relationship
Spouses become parents
Beginning family traditions and faith rituals

5. Family with School Age Children
Adjust roles and responsibilities as children enter school
Relating to other families and differing ideas
Developing faith traditions, passing on values

6. Family with Adolescents
Maintaining structure while allowing greater independence
Teens give more time, significance to peers
Deeper questioning of faith, church

7. Launching Family – Young Adults
Developing adult-adult relationships
Exits and entries into family system
New relationships as children establish families

8. Family in Later Life Empty nest through retirement
Loss of relatives and friends
Adjusting to physical limitations
New opportunities in society and church

9. Diverse Paths in the Family Life Cycle
Divorce and separated families
Death of family member
Single parenthood
Remarriage and blended family
Poverty and hardship
Immigration and migration

10. Ministry and the Family Life Cycle
Families at each stage have different needs and challenges
Transitions in family life are occasions for stress, re-negotiation, learning, and grace
As families negotiate the tasks of each stage, opportunities for faith growth open up

11. The Family Life Cycle Young Adulthood Beginning Family – New Couple
Childbearing Family – Preschool Children
Family with School Age Children
Family with Adolescents
Launching Family – Young Adults
Family in Later Life