5
Section 4:1
Factors Affecting Decision Making
95
What do you have available to help you
carry out your decisions? time? energy? money?
a pleasing personality? special skills? Basically,
there are two kinds of resources: human and
nonhuman. A
human resource
comes from
within a person. This includes your personal
qualities and characteristics as well as the support
you receive from others. A
nonhuman resource
is any item you have available to help you, such
as money, a car, tools, time, and information.
Some decisions may require several resources.
Human Resources
What personal qualities and characteristics
help you carry out your decisions? You may
have certain physical resources, such as good
health, strength, and energy. Knowledge,
talents, and skills are also human resources, 4-5.
Your personality and character traits are other
examples. These personal traits become resources
for making decisions and carrying out a task.
Your character qualities can also be
considered resources. Strength in character means
that you have personal qualities that will help
you carry out your decisions. For instance, if you
are self-controlled, you will be more likely to
carry out your decisions. What skills have you developed as resources?
Skills for reading, writing, and math are basic
resources you can acquire in school. You can also
develop skills for communicating with others.
Problem-solving skills and decision-making skills
can be learned. In addition, you probably have
developed other special skills, such as preparing
food or caring for children. Maintaining your
car, programming a computer, or playing an
instrument are examples of other skills you may
have. Each personal skill can be a resource for
you in some situation. Besides your skills and abilities, you may
need to use the second category of human
resources—other people in your life. Your family
members, a friend, teacher, or religious leader can
help or support you. For instance, suppose you
need help to complete your homework. Would
you contact a teacher? Would you ask a classmate
to help you?
The people who can help you carry out a
decision are part of your human resources. Their
support may depend on their own resources.
They may offer support by helping you,
encouraging you, or giving you other resources.
They can combine their resources with yours to
help you carry out your goals.
4-5
The knowledge gained through education is a human
resource.
What human resources could help a
person reach a goal of physical fitness?
of having good friendships? of
personal maturity?
Investigate Further
Nonhuman Resources
What nonhuman resources do you have to
help you carry out decisions? Money, possessions,
the community, and information are examples
of nonhuman resources. Every person has
resources in different amounts.and
The one exception is time, the nonhuman
resource has on an equal basis—
24 hours per day. How do you use your time?
Do you use to your goals or do you
waste it? Do you try to use productively?
Your time is a nonhuman resource that you can
learn to manage.
Money is a resource used to buy goods and
services. The presence or lack of it will affect the
decisions you can make. For instance, if one option
costs more money than you have, you know your
decision must match what you can afford.
332
Chapter 15
Strengthening Family Interactions
The Empty Nest Stage
When the last child is independent and
living on his or her own, the family enters the
empty nest stage. Parental roles change greatly.
No longer are children dependent on their
parents for meeting their needs. The children are
responsible for meeting their own needs. Some
marry and begin their own families. As a child
marries, parents need to accept the child’s mate
into the extended family.
Role Adjustments
Parents may still be involved in their adult
son or daughter’s life, but to a much lesser
extent. They may still provide some financial
help or support them in other ways. They may
be involved in grandparenting, 15-5. These roles
take less time than their full-time parenting
responsibilities of the past. This stage may seem
lonely for some parents.
Developing new
interests
and setting new goals may fill some needs.
The relationship of empty nesters with their
own parents may change. The older generation
may need financial support or help with physical
care. This new role of supporting older parents
requires adjustment from both spouses.
Although this stage can be challenging, it can
also be rewarding. Couples have the chance to
renew their own close relationship. They return
to living as a couple. Strengthening their own
relationship is important as they look ahead to
the next stage of retirement.
What can young adults do to show
empathy to parents at this stage? What
can parents do to show empathy to young
adults at this stage?
Use What You Learn
15-5
In many families, grandparenting is a new role of
the empty nest stage.
What are some of the
challenges of being in this
“sandwich generation”
between young adults and
older adults?
Weigh
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Retirement Stage
Couples enter retirement stage after
one or both spouses retire from their career.
Retirement age varies. Some couples work as
long as they are physically able, while some
choose an early
Many couples plan ahead while they are still
working to prepare financially for these years.
They have set goals for this time of their life. For
some couples, retirement a time to on
themselves, hobbies, volunteer work, travel, or
leisure activities. More time can be devoted to
friendships and grandchildren, too.
Not all people cope well with retirement.
Some are unable to adjust to their changed roles.
The sense of purpose they felt while working
is gone. As a result, their self-esteem may drop.
Along with this, health and financial problems
can prevent them from looking at the future with
hope.
Death of a Spouse
The death of one partner ends the family
life cycle. The remaining partner returns to
single living. The widow or widower faces two
major challenges: dealing emotionally with
the loss of a partner and adjusting to a lifestyle
change. Personal freedoms may be affected. The
loss of income, health, and the ability to live
Section 17:3
Strengthening the Family After Divorce
379
are to help single parents
upgrade their skills and education obtain
better-paying jobs..
Adjusting to the
In a second marriage,
need time to adjust to each other. The years
of a second marriage are full of adjustments, just
as they were in the first marriage. However,
adjustments are even more
complicated.earlythesetextheseter,earlye—couplesicarryovercarryaThemarriedLifedealhother’ses’nceapptahneedhaythatthateacheMarriageMexperiences.her.ToThofeoteednewlyncomp
Feelings of hurt rejection over
from the divorce may still exist. deal with
this, both need to experience acceptance
and unconditional love. They need
full and encouragement. They to
build each other’s self-esteem. Fulfilling their
own emotional needs will help their
children’s needs for love, affection, and security.
As a couple adjusts to each other, they
also adjusting to a new parenting arrangement.
This means less time for each other. They have
less time to communicate with each other, resolve
conflicts privately, and develop mutual interests.
Setting aside time to develop their personal
relationship is an important need for them to fulfill.
Think More About It
What are some ways that a single-parent
family can restore balance to the family
system so the needs of family members are
met?
Coping with Lonelinesssingletoforthemselves.
Loneliness is often a problem
parents. Because they are alone, they tend
focus more on their children than
They feel it is important to succeed at parenting.
They devote most of their time to providing for
the family and caring for their children. As a
result, little is left to spend building other relationships.time
Supportive Friendships
Friendships are especially important for single
parents. They need friends who accept them and
help them believe in their own abilities. Friends can
encourage them to take steps that will help them
grow as people. This support increases the single
parent’s self-esteem and confidence. An attitude
of personal growth can lead to the development
of new skills. Personal accomplishments will
bring feelings of success, 17-11.
Remarriage and the
Stepfamily
Many divorced people remarry within a few
years after their divorce. The reasons for this
decision vary. They may desire the closeness of
a marriage relationship. They may want more
financial security. The desire to share parenting
tasks with a spouse may be another reason.
When either spouse has children from a
previous marriage, they then form a stepfamily.
The newly married parent becomes a
stepparent
to the children of his or her new spouse. The
stepfamily brings more resources together to
meet the needs of family members. However, it
also brings more challenges.
17-11
Friendships are important for the single parent.
They provide emotional support and help the person gain
confidence in his or her ability to succeed.
Identify some examples of how the
relationships within a family become more
complex as more people become involved.
Link to Your Life
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Extend your learning
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2 Ch apter
15
Strengthening Family Interactions
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