Family, Life Course, and Society Commons^™

Why Is Mom So Blue? Postpartum Depression In A Family Context, Amy Scoville, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Elizabeth just couldn't understand herself. She had waited for this her whole life. When she was little, she had a whole nursery set up for her "baby" (a doll she had been given by her grandmother), and she would spend hours taking care of her. She loved to change her clothes, give her a bath, rock her to sleep, and do every other thing mommies do with their babies. She would dream of the day she could do those things with her own, real-life baby. So now that she could, why was it so hard? Why wasn't she finding any …

Adoption: Special Needs, Tanya Bailey, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Unfortunately, being certain that adoption is right for you and being as prepared and qualified as possible will not ensure that you get a baby to adopt. Adopting an infant today isn't as easy as it used to be. In the first half of the 1900's there were more babies needing to be adopted than there were families to take them (p. 987).7 That changed in the 1970's. Abortion was legalized, birth control became more available, and single parenting became more socially acceptable. Fewer and fewer healthy babies were available for adoption. At the same time more people began having …

Adoption: Building A Solid Foundation, Tanya Bailey, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Adoption touches most of our lives in some way. If you are not directly involved with adoption, most likely you know a neighbor, friend, or family member who is.

Sacrifice: An Unexpected Answer To Family Challenges, Jenny Stewart, Justin Dyer, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Michael Ruse and Julie Dodger had been engaged for six months, but the closer they got to the wedding, the more concerned they were about the marriage. Julie was willing to move to a new location, and Michael was willing to attend all of her family gatherings. When they did the math, it should have worked out. But according to Julie, Michael didn’t earn enough, didn’t listen well enough, and didn’t compromise. And according to Michael, Julie was intolerant, disorganized, and high maintenance. They worried that their differences were irreconcilable.

Recognizing And Dealing With Childhood Depression, Amy Soto, Jared Warren, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

It is normal for children to experience moments of sadness and discouragement. However, sometimes children will experience prolonged feelings of sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness which may interrupt normal interest in ordinary, everyday activities such as going to school, playing, sleeping, and eating. Research shows that about 5% of children and 10% to 20% of adolescents experience significant depression.15

Moving Ahead After Divorce As An Adult, Sarah Taylor, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Divorce can affect every aspect of a person's life, which can make the period of adjustment that follows very painful and overwhelming. This article discusses how individuals can take a positive approach to adjustment and provides practical ideas on how to heal from the pain and move on after divorce.

Coping With Grief In Perinatal Loss, Taelynn Johnson, Lynn Callister, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Pregnancy is a time of great excitement and change. There is so much to look forward to when anticipating a new life. For this reason, the loss of a pregnancy is often heartbreaking, especially for the infant’s parents. In this article, we hope to provide important information to help you understand perinatal loss, as well as helpful sources to lead you towards healing during this most difficult time.

Caring For An Aging Family Member, Matthew G. Mellinger, Richard B. Miller, Jeremy Yorgason, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

As research has given us advances in health care, people in most parts of the world are living longer than ever. Although most people value long life, difficult challenges await older men and women who develop disabling conditions and those who care for them.

Becoming A Transitional Character: Changing Your Family Culture, Kristi Tanner, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

No family is perfect--today or at any point in history. But some families get it right a lot more consistently than others. These families cultivate caring and understanding relationships. They work together, play together, and laugh together. They are unified in purpose and in their commitment to one another. Family members support and encourage each other. Parents are dedicated to the success of their marriage and family. In essence, these families create a loving family culture.

Family Strengths: Time Together, Stephen F. Duncan, Kristi Mclane

Forever Families

When 1,500 school children in a national study were asked what they thought made a happy family, they didn't list things like money or cars-their number-one answer was doing things together. Children want parents to show interest in their activities, do things with them, and talk with them.

Family Strengths: Community And Family Ties, Stephen F. Duncan, Kristi Mclane

Forever Families

Strong families are connected to others in the community. They don't stand alone. You will find such families closely involved with extended families and friends, schools, churches, and local organizations that promote the well-being of individuals and communities. Parents support groups that help develop and educate their children.

Making Wise Use Of The Media At Home, Brynn Marie Blake Steimle, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

It's a typical evening. After working all day you're exhausted. As soon as you get home and walk in the door, you plop on the couch and join your children in front of the television. Or maybe you flip on your PC and escape into surfing the Internet while your son or daughter is absorbed in Nintendo and your spouse listens to a favorite CD.

Young, Pregnant, And Unmarried, Sarah A. Smith, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Remember when having cool friends and deciding what to wear were the most serious issues you faced? Since you found out you're expecting a baby, everything else seems trivial. You have so many more serious things to think about now -- and so many decisions to make. You might be feeling fear, anger, or guilt. The pregnancy might still be a secret or something you don't yet want to admit even to yourself.

Helping Unwed Parents, Sarah A. Smith, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Unwed parents who are very young face a daunting crisis. They have many urgent decisions to make, and they must prepare for continuing struggles in all areas of their lives (p. 74)7 (p. 24)10. They need the help and support of others more than at any other time of their lives. Family members, close friends, professionals, and agencies can provide this support best if they're able to resist becoming overbearing or taking control (p. 22).2

Being A Successful Single Parent, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Today, it's common to talk about single-parent family problems and their disadvantages to children. This can lead some single parents to think there is little they can do to have a successful family. That's not so.

Unifying Military Families, Jeremy Boyle, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

All over the world, men and women in the military are being deployed at the call of their governments. For them and their families, the impact of war hits very close to home. As these courageous men and women fight dangerous physical battles, they also fight an emotional battle--staying close to their families. Back at home, their spouses carry the burden of keeping the family unified.

Balancing Family And Work, Rebekah Olsen, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

With only 24 hours in a day, life can seem like a complicated juggling act. Most of us have more balls in the air than we can handle. We drop a ball from time to time – or even many balls, depending on how balanced or unbalanced our life is. But some of the balls are more important than others. Dropping the important ones can be disastrous while dropping the less important ones might not matter at all. The trick is to know which is which.

Affirming And Supporting The Sanctity Of Life, Vjollca Kadi Martinson, Andrew Robert Tegeder, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Life is a sacred gift from God. The Family: A Proclamation to the World affirms the sanctity of human life and its importance in God's plan for the happiness of his children

One of the ways we deepen our reverence for human life and for the Creator is by guarding life from the moment of conception. Unfortunately, innocent human life is often not cherished but is destroyed. This is the tragedy of abortion.

Making Meaning Of Death, Jaelynn R. Jenkins, Susanne Olson Roper, Stephen F. Duncan

Forever Families

Death is a universal transition that knocks on every family's door. It is perhaps the most stressful event family members will face, depriving them of an irreplaceable person that they love.

Family Strengths: Clear Roles And Responsibilities, Stephen F. Duncan, Kristi Mclane

Forever Families

The Family: A Proclamation to the World teaches that fathers are to preside over, provide for, and protect the family; the mother's primary responsibility is to nurture the children. Parents are obligated to help one another in these responsibilities as equal partners and rear their children in love and righteousness.