““The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.” at home in the bosom of my family.”

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

What have been the happiest What have been the happiest memories with your family? memories with your family?

(In your head!!)(In your head!!)

Millions of KidsMillions of Kids

Children living in blended Children living in blended families, including either a families, including either a step-parent or step-sibling.step-parent or step-sibling.Children living with both Children living with both natural parents and full natural parents and full brothers or sisters.brothers or sisters.Children living in extended Children living in extended families including other people families including other people such as uncles, cousins, aunts such as uncles, cousins, aunts or grandparents.or grandparents.Children living in one-parent Children living in one-parent families.families.

8 million8 million

10 million10 million

15 million15 million

33 million33 million

Family Type Number of ChildrenWorldwide StatisticsWorldwide Statistics

Family FormsFamily FormsFlexibilityFlexibility, , adaptabilityadaptability and and tolerance for changetolerance for change are are

helpful skills for making any helpful skills for making any family form succeed!family form succeed!

Family RelationshipsFamily RelationshipsWhat is a relationship?What is a relationship? An interaction between two or more people.An interaction between two or more people.

Who does a family relationship involve?Who does a family relationship involve? Parents, siblings, peers, spouse, grandparentsParents, siblings, peers, spouse, grandparents

The family relationship is constantly changing.The family relationship is constantly changing.It is important to remember that an individual is It is important to remember that an individual is going through various stages of his/her life cycle going through various stages of his/her life cycle while the family is going through its own cycle.while the family is going through its own cycle.

Family Life CycleFamily Life CycleStage 1: Beginning FamilyStage 1: Beginning Family The married couple establish their home but do not yet The married couple establish their home but do not yet

have children.have children.

Stage 2: Childbearing FamilyStage 2: Childbearing Family From the birth of the first child until that child is 2 ½ years From the birth of the first child until that child is 2 ½ years

old.old.

Stage 3: Family with PreschoolersStage 3: Family with Preschoolers When the oldest child is between the ages of 2 ½ and 6.When the oldest child is between the ages of 2 ½ and 6.

Stage 4: Family with School ChildrenStage 4: Family with School Children When the oldest child is between the ages of 6 and 13.When the oldest child is between the ages of 6 and 13.

The Family Life Cycle Continued...The Family Life Cycle Continued...

Stage 5: Family with TeenagersStage 5: Family with Teenagers When the oldest child is between the ages of 13 When the oldest child is between the ages of 13

and 19.and 19.

Stage 6: Launching CenterStage 6: Launching Center From the time the oldest child leaves the family From the time the oldest child leaves the family

for independent adult life till the time the last child for independent adult life till the time the last child leaves.leaves.

Stage 7: Empty NestStage 7: Empty Nest From the time the children are gone till the marital From the time the children are gone till the marital

couple retires from employment.couple retires from employment.

Stage 8: Aging FamilyStage 8: Aging Family From retirement till the death of the surviving From retirement till the death of the surviving

marriage partner.marriage partner.

What is your definition of the What is your definition of the stereotypical family?stereotypical family?

Working dadWorking dad

Stay-at-home momStay-at-home mom

2 or 3 children2 or 3 children

Only 10% of all U.S. Only 10% of all U.S. households are in this households are in this

family form.family form.

Turn to the Turn to the “Family Portrait” “Family Portrait”

PagePageDirections:Directions:Draw a portrait of Draw a portrait of your family. (Please your family. (Please be more creative than be more creative than stick figures!) stick figures!)

Then, list all of the Then, list all of the characteristics you characteristics you feel YOU have feel YOU have because of your place because of your place in your family.in your family.

American Family FormsAmerican Family Forms1. Living Alone1. Living Alone 1 of 24 adults remain single throughout their life.1 of 24 adults remain single throughout their life. 66% of single people are women.66% of single people are women.

2. Cohabitation2. Cohabitation Persons of the opposite sex sharing living quarters.Persons of the opposite sex sharing living quarters. Couples who live together before marriage, divorce Couples who live together before marriage, divorce

just as often as those who marry first.just as often as those who marry first.

3. Marrying Later in Life3. Marrying Later in Life Average age to marry: men - 25.9, women - 23.6Average age to marry: men - 25.9, women - 23.6 More young people are not marrying or are More young people are not marrying or are

marrying later.marrying later.

4. Couples Having Children Later in Life4. Couples Having Children Later in Life More couples are waiting to become parents until More couples are waiting to become parents until

their careers are established.their careers are established. Estimated cost to raise child is $200,000Estimated cost to raise child is $200,000

5. Couples With Fewer Children5. Couples With Fewer Children The average number of children has dropped from 3.6 The average number of children has dropped from 3.6

in 1957 to 1.8.in 1957 to 1.8.

6. Couples With No Children6. Couples With No Children Due to career commitments, fertility problems or just Due to career commitments, fertility problems or just

because they enjoy their childless lifestyles, many because they enjoy their childless lifestyles, many couples are remaining “Double Income, No Kids” couples are remaining “Double Income, No Kids” couples.couples.

American Family FormsAmerican Family Forms

7. Divorced Adults7. Divorced Adults Approximately 60% of all divorces involve couples Approximately 60% of all divorces involve couples

with children in the home.with children in the home.

8. Single-Parent Families8. Single-Parent Families About 1 in 4 children live with only one parent.About 1 in 4 children live with only one parent. The number of single-parent homes has more than doubled in the past The number of single-parent homes has more than doubled in the past

20 years20 years Divorced women’s standard of living drops 73%, while divorced men Divorced women’s standard of living drops 73%, while divorced men

jumps 42%.jumps 42%. About 50% of the children in divorced families report having not seen 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.their father in the last year and only 1 of 6 see him once a week.

American Family FormsAmerican Family Forms

American Family FormsAmerican Family Forms9. Grown Children Moving In With Their Parents9. Grown Children Moving In With Their Parents Families with two children and young parents living Families with two children and young parents living

at home with their parents has doubled in 25 years.at home with their parents has doubled in 25 years.10. Grandparents Living With Families10. Grandparents Living With Families With greater longevity, there are more elderly With greater longevity, there are more elderly

people.people.11. Blended Families11. Blended Families Divorced parents, especially fathers are likely to Divorced parents, especially fathers are likely to

remarry. remarry. 13% of today’s children are stepchildren13% of today’s children are stepchildren Flexibility and humor will assist in the adjustment.Flexibility and humor will assist in the adjustment.

12. Working Mothers12. Working Mothers The fastest growing segment of the work force is The fastest growing segment of the work force is

women with children under the age of three.women with children under the age of three. More than half of American mothers with infants less More than half of American mothers with infants less

than a year old are working outside the home.than a year old are working outside the home. Day care for these children can cost up to ¼ the Day care for these children can cost up to ¼ the

family budget.family budget. Working mothers have 15 fewer hours of leisure a Working mothers have 15 fewer hours of leisure a

week than fathers.week than fathers.

American Family FormsAmerican Family Forms

““In a united family, happiness springs of itself.”In a united family, happiness springs of itself.”Chinese ProverbChinese Proverb

Is your family united? How can you help Is your family united? How can you help unite and strengthen your family?unite and strengthen your family?

What are What are the Secrets the Secrets

of a Strong Family?of a Strong Family?

Give it FrequentlyGive it Frequently

Be Appreciative of “Invisible Work”Be Appreciative of “Invisible Work”

Behavior is Contagious!Behavior is Contagious!

Don’t Give Up Too QuicklyDon’t Give Up Too Quickly

Small touches, hugs & kissesSmall touches, hugs & kisses

Use verbal affection often Use verbal affection often (appreciation, compliments, (appreciation, compliments, etc.) etc.)

Develops bondingDevelops bonding

Don’t assume they “already Don’t assume they “already know it”know it”

Go with each other when one of you has Go with each other when one of you has an activity.an activity.

Share daily experiences.Share daily experiences.

Show that you are in it for long haul. (You Show that you are in it for long haul. (You won’t give up on family easily.)won’t give up on family easily.)

Quality time is better than quantity time.Quality time is better than quantity time.

Family ExperiencesFamily Experiences VacationsVacations CampingCamping

Daily ExperiencesDaily Experiences Eating together!!!!Eating together!!!! ChoresChores Doing homeworkDoing homework

The purpose of the experience is to strengthen The purpose of the experience is to strengthen the relationship.the relationship.

Strong families can solve problems in Strong families can solve problems in creative ways.creative ways.

Happy families have the same number of Happy families have the same number of arguments, but they focus on happy times.arguments, but they focus on happy times.

It is ok to have problems, but the key is to It is ok to have problems, but the key is to solve them quickly.solve them quickly. The longer you are in an argument, the harder The longer you are in an argument, the harder

it is to get out. Why?it is to get out. Why?

Communication is the key!Communication is the key!Be willing to share daily events and Be willing to share daily events and experiences often to foster experiences often to foster communication. communication. Without communication, the family unit Without communication, the family unit falls apart. falls apart. Is there a member of your family that you Is there a member of your family that you have not talked to for a long time because have not talked to for a long time because of a conflict? How does this lack of of a conflict? How does this lack of communication make you feel? communication make you feel?