Family is > (greater than) Individuals & Symbolic Interactions

Last week we explored a few of the many theories explaining life in a family.  The two that resonated most with me were the Family Systems Theory and the Symbolic Interaction Theory.  I have seen both of these at work in my own family as well as in other situations. 
          A perspective of the both the Family Systems Theory and the Symbolic Interaction Theory is that 'the whole is more than just the sum of its parts'.  The family together as a family is more than just each member coexisting.  Think of an Oreo and milk... there is the cookie, the frosting, and the milk.  Put them simply together and they're just that... a cookie and milk.  No big deal.  But have them interact and the result is a wonderful snack.  The way they influence each other makes them much more than a cookie and milk; the milk softens and moisturizes the cookie and the entire experience is better.  So it is with a family.  You have a wife, a husband, a son, or whoever.  Yes, they are all great and have strengths, but it is their interactions as a family that make them so much more than just individuals cooperating.  There are bonds, deep connections, memories, values and unity. 
         Furthermore, this means that a single member of the family cannot be fully understood without looking at their family.  Each individual is so much more because of their family than they would be as an individual.  Additionally, the family has boundaries and rules that help define the family as a unique and functional system.  That is the Family Systems theory.
           The Symbolic Interaction theory explains how individuals within a relationship may interpret situations or actions differently.  Each action has an intended meaning and an understood meaning.  A difference in interpretation can potentially cause issues.  For example, a husband comes home from work and starts doing the dishes in the kitchen.  The wife may be offended, thinking "he must really think I'm slacking and is disappointed by the dishes in the sink."  In reality, the husband loves and appreciates his wife and all she does; he wants to help her out and lighten her load.  If there is not communication, this misunderstanding could result in hurt feelings or more.  Communication and willingness to hear out a spouse's concern will bring strength and resilience to a relationship.

Trends

      This week we have been focusing on the trends seen in family structure over the last decades.  These are things we see and experience every day, yet some of the data still shocked me. 
Some of the trends we explored were:

• Age at marriage increasing... people waiting longer to get married
• Cohabitation increasing... more couples choosing to live together without marrying
• Unwed births increasing (births to mothers not married)
• Birth rate (babies born per year) decreasing
• Household size decreasing
• Working mothers increasing (especially in the demographic of mothers with children under 6 yrs.)

It was very interesting to explore relationships between these trends.  For example, many women are delaying marriage until a later age.  This typically results in the first birth to the family happening while the mother is in her 30s. As a result she will have fewer children, or may be involuntarily childless due to fertility decreasing with age.  Thus, we are having fewer children born each year and family size is decreasing.
        The statistic that really hit close to home was:  In 1987, for the first time, there were more new mothers staying in the work force than at home with their infant.  Also, the largest increase in working mothers has been those with a child under the age of 6 yrs, the age at which so much is learned.  This means more children are being placed in child care than ever before.  This concerns me, both as a Child Development major, but also because I know how significant of an impact my mother had on me during those years.  I was lucky enough to have her in the home full-time to raise me and my siblings.  I know others are not as lucky, but to those who have a choice, it is worth it to your children to have you home. 

Welcome!!

       Welcome to Exploring Family Relations!  This began as an assignment for a Family Relations course I took from Brigham Young University- Idaho, however, I suspect it will become much more.  Here I can share with the world the things I am learning... snapshots of class discussions and my own observations and discoveries. 
       Fun stories, inspirational thoughts, connections and insights will also pepper the pages.  I will also be sure to include commitments I make to myself, cautions, hopes, dreams and fears.  I hope you enjoy learning about the family as much as I do and can gain valuable insights for your own life!
 > > Please feel free to add comments and your own opinions.