As individuals and families move through the family life cycle stages, challenges and milestones often present themselves. These challenges can be difficult for individuals to accept; however, the family life cycle stages of development are a normal and critical part of family growth.
The following are common stages of the cycles
1. Individual Independence
The first stage of the family life cycle stages is the individual independence of an unattached adult. This is also referred to parent-offspring separation, and typically occurs when an adolescent turns 18 years old and moves out of the family home. Peers replace family as the primary social unit.
2. Marriage
An individual enters the second family life cycle stage when they commit themselves to marriage.This usually occurs when an individual is in their mid to late 20s.
3. Childbearing and Childrearing through Adolescence
Parents enter a new stage of the family life cycle when they decide to have children. Not only are they welcoming a new member or members to their family, but they are also tasked with learning how to handle childrearing duties, finances, and other tasks associated with parenting. Some family life cycle stages break childbearing and childrearing through adolescence into two, or even three, distinct phases.
4. Launching Adult Children
This is considered one of the most difficult transitions for parents to make: Launching their now grown children into the adult world and moving on. Empty nest syndrome – a phenomenon where parents experience feelings of loss and sadness when a child moves out – is common in this phase.
5. Aging in Life
The fifth and final step in family life cycle stages is aging through adulthood post-children. Parents now support their adult children in raising their own families, build relationships with grandchildren, retire from careers, and may even move to more age-appropriate cities, homes, or facilities.
Coping with Family Life Cycle Stages
Coping with different stages within the family life cycle can be difficult to do. In the first cycle – where an adolescent leaves home for the first time – parents may struggle with letting go of their child, whereas the young person may struggle with forming their own version of independence without their parents. As that individual moves into adulthood, they will learn many valuable lessons about themselves, relationship-building, communication, caring for others, money management, and more. When becoming a parent, a reflection of parental values will be essential, and the individual and their partner will be tasked with making important decisions about how they want to raise their child.
All stages of the family life cycle present different challenges and rewards. As a family, you may benefit from support provided by your extended family as it moves through each stage of the cycle.
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