Every family goes through a series of life stages. Each stage is usually ushered in by a major life change such as the birth of a child or retirement from a job. Understanding these stages can help make them easier to cope with, allowing you and your family to move smoothly through each phase of life. Without the right coping mechanisms, successfully moving forward in life can be more challenging.
Together, all of these stages are a part of the lifecycle. When looking at the circle of life, there are a couple of different approaches that you can take. First, you can look at the lifecycle of an individual, seeing how they have grown and changed as they age. Alternatively, you can look at the lifecycle of an entire family, watching how the family dynamics change and evolve over time.
Birth – Infancy – Childhood – Adolescence
The earliest stage of family life occurs during the childbearing years. When a child is born, the adults have to learn parenting skills. The entire family dynamic changes as adjustments are made for the new family member. Every time a new child is born, further adjustments take place. Everything from chores around the house to a family’s financial situation can be affected by the birth of a child. During this stage, families also spend a large portion of their time interacting with families who have children of a similar age.
Adolescence – Early Adulthood – Adulthood
Once the children grow up, the next stage of life begins. During this stage, the adult children are launched into the world with the support of their family. As they move on, the relationships between parents and children change. Adult children gain a sense of independence while parents learn how to let go. There are other changes, as well. As older children get married, new family dynamics are introduced. For instance, a family suddenly has to deal with having in-laws after a wedding.
Adulthood – Midlife – Mature Adulthood
As the children grow older, the parents reach middle age. Interestingly, this is one of the most common times for a divorce to occur. Parents who were primarily focused on their children may suddenly find that they no longer have anything in common with their spouse. Other couples, on the other hand, work together to renew their mutual interests. Grandchildren sometimes enter the equation at this stage of life. Additionally, the couple’s own parents may require care and assistance as they get older.
These stages take place in almost every family. Adjusting to each stage of life is an important part of completing the lifecycle. Families that successfully make these adjustments together can continue to enjoy a happy and fulfilling family life throughout all of the stages.
Late Adulthood – Death
The later stages of life are equally as important as the earlier stages. Becoming a grandparent or retiring from a job can alter everyday life significantly. There are questions that need to be addressed such as figuring out what to do with all of your time once your family is grown or after you retire.
Retirement is a time for change. Even as grandchildren are being born, other family members may be passing away. Each day brings new challenges as well as new opportunities.
Raising a family is an incredible amount of work. Once your children are grown and able to care for themselves, you finally have the freedom to spend your time doing what you want. This is especially true after retirement since you will have a lot more free time when you are not working. This is the perfect time to explore new hobbies or to take on challenges that you haven’t had time for in the past. It is also a good time to work with your partner or spouse to grow your relationship with one another.
One challenge that many people in this phase of life face is caring for aging parents. As they get older, there are a lot of different needs that have to be addressed, ranging from their physical care to their financial well-being.
At the same time, you may also begin to experience some of the challenges that come along with aging. You may notice that your physical abilities aren’t what they used to be. You may also begin experiencing cognitive decline. Family members and other loved ones may begin to pass away. This phase of life can be challenging. However, by caring for your health and building strong relationships, you can get through it with ease. You may begin to experience problems with aging, ranging from changes in your appearance to physical changes that affect your mobility. There is also a possibility that you may be more susceptible to illness and disease.
Despite these drawbacks, retirement can still be an incredible phase of life. Watching your grandchildren grow up and pursuing your own hobbies can be quite rewarding. People who don’t have a lot of friends or family members or who have not planned for their financial future may find retirement a bit more challenging.
As you age, you should focus on maintaining your health and mental well-being. This includes maintaining relationships with your friends and family members. You should also take the time to pursue activities that you are interested in.
You may need to look into some of the options for elderly care Houston has to offer for yourself or for an aging parent. It is also important to start preparing yourself for the loss of your partner or other aging loved ones. This is also a good time to start preparing a will and thinking about your own death. Although it sounds grim, being prepared can give you peace of mind, knowing that your family will be cared for after you are gone.
Since her childhood days, Angela has already admired those people who give primary care to the oldies. Because of her passion towards elders, she decided to take Physical Therapy in college which specializes rehabilitation for the elders. During her free time, she writes in her journal about the different moments she had with the elders that she loves most.