Observation of a Family with a Young Child

In this paper I will describe my observations of a family with a young child, and I will analyze these observations by relating them to supporting literature and research. I will call this family the Andersons. Bill Anderson is a 31-year-old white male; he is a reasonably successful insurance broker. He has been married for seven years to 28-year-old Vicki Anderson. Prior to the birth of her son, she was a human resources specialist, but she has not worked outside of the home for the last five years. Jamie Anderson, their five-year old son, is beginning school this year. None of the Andersons have any major physical or mental health problems.

Each member of the family is approaching a developmental milestone in his or her lifespan, and each is struggling to cope with the changing needs, challenges, and demands within themselves, their family members, and the society in which they are functioning. Bill Anderson's central issues involve feeling overburdened with occupational and familial responsibilities. Studies have demonstrated that the (often conflicting) demands of work and home tend to peak in early and middle adulthood, resulting in a great deal of dissatisfaction with both areas (Rollins & Feldman, 1970).

Bill does not feel fulfilled by his career and would like to try doing something different, yet he feels he has no other realistic career options because he is the family's sole financial provider. Thus, he experiences feelings of being trapped, and of

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s at age 40. 28-year-old Vicki is technically still in early adulthood, but she is in no less of a state of change than her husband. As Jamie begins elementary school, she must decide whether to return to the work force or not. On one level, she very much wants to have a job because she believes it would increase her feeling of self-worth and take some of the pressure off of Bill. Her non-contribution to the finances of the family has made her feel somewhat subservient to her husband, and she would welcome the chance to feel productive and have her "own money." However, she is unwilling to sacrifice any time with her son and wants to be available for him after school. She is struggling with separation anxiety and grief/loss issues as her only child goes off to school. These emotional reactions have produced in her a strong desire for another baby, although she knows that this would probably not be a good idea at this point. Thus, Vicki, like Bill, must decide what path she wants her life to take in the coming years. Hultsch & Deutsch (1981) have found that Vicki's dilemma is typical of women in her age group and socioeconomic class: should she have another child and face the possibility of more severe marital stresses, or

Category: Psychology - O