The Binuclear Family Consists of two nuclear families
The Binuclear Family Consists of two nuclear families: the mother-headed family and the father- headed family. § The binuclear family consists of five subsystems: § – former spouse, remarried couple, parent-child, sibling, and mother/stepmother-father/stepfather subsystems
Remarriage § Differences from first marriage: – Partners get to know each other in the midst of major changes. – They remarry later in life. – They have different marital expectations. – Their marriage often creates a stepfamily.
How Stepfamilies Differ From Original Family Stepparent roles are ill defined. § Children often are also members of the noncustodial parent’s household. § Children have at least one extra pair of grandparents. §
Becoming a Stepfamily Each person experiences the process differently. § For family members, it involves seven stages. § – Early stages are fantasy, immersion, and awareness. – Middle stages are mobilization and action. – Later stages are contact and resolution.
How Stepfamilies Differ From Original Family Almost all members have lost an important primary relationship. § One biological parent lives outside the current family. §
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents Karen Jim Joan Steven Susan Mike Married, 1990 Key: X means deceased = means married means children
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents, contd. Jim Karen Mike Joan Steven Susan Joe Jim Jr. Sally 1991 1993 1995 Key: X means deceased = means married means children
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents, contd. Jim Kare n Joan Steven Divorced, 1997 Mike Joe Age 6 Susa n Jim Jr. Sally Age 4 Age 2 Key: X means deceased = means married means children /// means divorce
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents, contd. Jim Karen Mike Key: X means deceased = means married means children /// means divorce ---- means no custody Joan Steven Susan Joe Jim Jr. Sally
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents, contd. Jim Rose Karen Joan Steven Tom Tess Jo Mike Susan Married, 2000 Key: X means deceased = means married means children /// means divorce ---- means no custody …. means cohabit Dave. Cohabited, 1998 Joe Jim Jr. Sally Calvin
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents, contd. Jim Karen Joan Steven Tess Mike Jo Susan Val Chris 2001 2003 Key: X means deceased = means married means children /// means divorce ---- means no custody …. means cohabit means association Joe Jim Jr. Sally Dave Callie 2000 Calvin
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents, contd. Jim Karen Joan Steven Tess Mike Jo Susan Val Calvin Dave Chris GONE, 2000 Key: X means deceased = means married means children /// means divorce ---- means no custody means association Joe Jim Jr. Sally Callie
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents, contd. Calvin Jim Karen Joan Steven Tess Paul Mike Peter Susan Val Chris Key: X means deceased = means married means children /// means divorce ---- means no custody means association Flo Married, 2003 Joe Jim Jr. Age 13 Age 11 Sally Age 9 Callie Age 4 Jill Tina Twins, 2004 Kyle Age 10
The case of the missing fathers and the many grandparents: Questions § § § § How many grandparents does Sally associate with? How many grandparents do Joe and Jim, Jr. associate with? Will they have the same relationship with their grandparents? What has Sally, Joe and Jim, Jr. learned about fathers? Will Peter be able to bond with Sally, Joe and Jim, Jr. ? Will they accept him as their father? What ideas about family may Sally, Joe and Jim, Jr. take with them into adulthood? Will Joe and Jim, Jr. have extra struggles to overcome when they become fathers?
Strengths of Stepfamilies Improved family functioning and reduced conflict between former spouses. § Children may gain multiple role models, more flexibility, concerned stepparents, additional siblings, additional kin, improved economic situation, and happily married parents. §
Youtube… https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=PGoe. NQMYLf. Y § https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Nk. G 1 O 0 P-v. Mo § https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Gyd. Mt 37 DYc 4 §
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