What are relationships?

1
Family Relationships

• What are relationships?

The way in which two or more people or things are
connected
2
What is a family life cycle?

• The emotional and intellectual stages you pass
  through from childhood to your retirement years
  as a member of a family are called the family
  life cycle. In each stage, you face challenges in
  your family life that allow you to build or gain
  new skills. Gaining these skills helps you work
  through the changes that nearly every family goes
  through.

3
The Family Life Cycle
Independent person
Couple-POSSLQ
Retirement/Senior Years
Couple with Child-Early Parenthood
Empty Nest- All children have left home
Launching-One or more children prepare to leave
home
Couple with Child(ren)-Middle Parenthood
4
Stereotypical Family?

• A typical family would be husband and wife ( or a
  man and woman living as married couple), and 2.4
  children.
• In this day and age is there such a thing as a
  typical family?
• Only 19 of families in 2013 were typical!

5
Seven Secrets to Strong Families

• They put the time in
• Love and acceptance are unconditional, and
  individuality is prized
• Parents treat one another and their children at
  least as well as the dinner guests

6
Seven Secrets to Strong Families

• Everybody has input but parents remain in charge
• Everyone pitches in
• Expressing affection and appreciation are
  everyday affairs
• Humor and laughter abound

7
Family Placement Activity

• Students who are
• The oldest child go to the NE corner of room.
• The youngest child go to the SE corner.
• The middle child go to the SW corner.
• The only child go to the NW corner.
• Each group is to list the advantages and
  disadvantages of their birth order on the butcher
  paper. Each group will present their findings.

8

• Journal
• What position are you in your family in
  relationship to your siblings? Describe that
  position.

9
Birth Order

• The order in which children are born into a
  family influences the development of the
  children.
• Oldest children bear the burden of the parents
  heaviest expectations and also of the parents
  inexperience in raising children.
• Second or third children are generally treated in
  a more relaxed way by the parents.
• Youngest children often have a more difficult
  time in making the transition to adulthood.

10
Oldest Child

• Usually set up as an example to the other
  children.
• Treated more like an adult by his/her parents.
• A high achiever.
• Given and accepts more responsibility than the
  other children.
• Usually college-bound.
• Independent.
• Affectionate.

11
Middle Child

• May work extra-hard to get recognition.
• Is usually a peacemaker.
• Is somewhat average in schoolwork, but is an
  all-around good student.
• Is usually a calm, even-tempered adult.

12
Youngest Child

• Gets a lot of attention, along with a lot of
  bossing.
• May be spoiled.
• Usually matures quickly.
• May be undisciplined and irresponsible.
• Is easy-going about school.
• Likes to associate with someone who takes charge
  of situations.

13
Only Child

• Overtly confident
• Sensitive to criticism
• Well spoken (due to time spent with adults)
• Pay attention to detail
• Good in school
• Difficulty sharing
• Overly critical of self and others

14
Toothpaste Activity

• Student draws a line on the black paper with the
  toothpaste for every degrading thing I say and a
  circle for every positive comment.
• Give the paper to another students.
• Have this student put the toothpaste back into
  the tube of toothpaste.

Once we have said something, we can never
take the words back they have left their
mark!
15
Sibling Rivalry

• Competition among children of the same family for
  their parents affections or for dominance.
• It can occur at any age, even into adult life.
• Next to the parent-child relationship, the
  sibling relationship is probably the strongest.