48 Unit 1 Your Development and Relationships
families have children. Stepparents and stepchildren begin a new relationship.
Children also continue to spend time with their other parent.
If both divorced parents remarry, children may have four parents. This will
be in addition to siblings, stepsisters, stepbrothers, and eight grandparents.
Adjusting to all these new people can be challenging. The children may also
have to accept more responsibilities at home. The amount of income the family
has may change.
Guidelines for behavior may be different in each family. Stepparents may
fi nd it diffi cult to discipline stepchildren. The stepchildren may feel they do
not have to listen to their stepparents. Stepchildren may feel they are being
treated differently from children, whether they are or not.
When families are combined, fi nancial demands may increase. The
additional money needed for the new family may cause cutbacks to occur.
There may be less money available for items you want, such as new clothes.
This will be an adjustment for all members of the family. Families who work
together with respect and love for one another can adjust to these many
changes. Having a positive attitude can make the adjustments easier.
Family Members Change
Many of the changes families face occur because people change. No one stays
the same forever. Some changes cannot be avoided. Serious illnesses and accidents
sometimes occur. The death of a family member is also an unexpected change.
These crises mean adjustments for family members. Other family members
may need to assume the roles and responsibilities of a family member who
is sick, has special needs, or is
deceased. A sickness may mean a
temporary change. A life altering
sickness, disability, or death may
cause a permanent change.
Families must work together to
cope with these diffi cult changes.
Family members may have to take
turns caring for the ill, 2-13. They
will need to comfort one another
when there is a life altering sickness
or death.
Health Crises
Family members must deal
with illnesses and accidents at
times. You may get a cold, the fl u,
or have an upset stomach. You
might break your arm falling off
your bike. These challenges are
temporary. You are often feeling
healthy again in no time.
2-13 When a grandparent is hospitalized, all family
members may need to make adjustments.
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