Your Family of Origin

Part I
According to Table 12.2 of the family life cycle, the family is not a stable and constant entity but rather undergoes a series of disruptive changes. A good example of this is when an older child leaves home for college. Within a stable family environment, such a change is likely to be viewed in a positive way, as a step toward independence, but the parents will provide support if the child needs guidance. Some cultures may view children as less independent entities, however, which can cause conflict with the external values of the United States, if the child seeks a more autonomous lifestyle. Similarly, other parents may not provide emotional or financial support, which can be difficult for a young person today, due to the cost of living and education.
Part II
This information is enlightening because it shows how not all families experience the same event in the same way. For some families, the desire of the parents for the child to be independent outweighs the desire to exert control on the child’s future after the child leaves for college. For other families, the individual is seen as part of the family, even after leaving for college. This can create internal conflict within the child and within the family as the child tests his or her limits. Other families may be very impatient with children who take longer to assert their personal and financial independence.
Part III
This helped me better to understand the inevitable conflicts and growing pains I am experiencing as I attempt to establish independence as a young person within my family. Within the HUS field it has underlined to me the importance of cultural sensitivity. Not every family interprets independence the same way. Similarly, not every family interprets individualism in the same way. It is not the HUS professional’s responsibility to pass judgement.
References
http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/4915/5033208/Fourth_ed.pdf