Who's at home:

1. Mothers: Mothers go to work. Why?

-They need money. They want to have more income for family or they likes and enjoy working.

-They have hectic and stressful life.

How has American family life changed as a result of American mothers working outside the home?

*3 changes in family

• Mothers:- has less time for child care and housekeeping, her husband and older children usually become more involved in these tasks.

- Older children must be more self-sufficient.

- Mother spend only a few hours a day with her children. Created another great social need- affordable, high-quality day-care facilities for preschool children.

*1 change in society

- affordable and high quality day-care facilities for pre-school children.

2. Fathers: declining role of father. Why?

- The high divorce rate and the large number of children born to unmarried mothers.

3. Children

Most american families have only one child. What happened when they have one child?

The child will feel sad, lonely -> need someone to be a friend -> "dog" is the child's friend -> grow up to 18 years old -> say goodbye and go to the college -> look for a job -> 50% get divorced -> comeback to parent house.

4. Grandparents:

*They try to avoid moving in with grown children

- take pride in their independence

- enjoy their freedom

- do not want to be a burden to their children

- to get the support of means of communication

* When they are old enough, there are 2 living facilities for them.

- nursing home

- retirement residences

Where Is Home? (Housing)

Type of accommodation

+ houses

+ apartment

+ mobile homes

→ How does the mobility of Americans affect families?

-The mobility deprives the nuclear family of having money relatives and long time friends living nearby.

-The nuclear family must now supply the companionship and help once provided in part by aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends living in the neighbourhood.

Who Pays the Bills?: (family economy)

→ Who pays for all the possessions of the American family?

-Mom's salary helps to buy the things the family wants.

-If the family wants to buy nice and useful possessions: dad's salary is needed, the two-income family is a necessity.

Who's in Charge?: (responsibility)

→ What are some examples of battles for control within an American family?

-The battle of the sexes – husband and wife fight for control of the family.

-Sibling rivalry – competition and jealousy between brothers and sisters.

-Generation gap – the difficulty parents have understanding the attitudes and behaviour of their children and vice – versa.

- In-law problems, especially when parents try to interfere in the lives of their married children

*Problem children:

- quit school, abuse alcohol, run away from home, get involved with gangs, have illegitimate children, use illegal drugs.

*Parenthood: A choice.

- they don't want to have children

+ birth control method

+abortion

- they do want to give children

+ IVF (in Vitro Fertilization)

+adoption

EXERCISE:

I.

1. the high divorce rate and the large number of children born to unmarried mothers.

2. earn the money and find work is more interesting than being full-time homemakers

hectic and stressful

3. • Mothers: has less time for child care and housekeeping, her husband and older children usually become more involved in these tasks.

Older children must be more self-sufficient.

Mother spend only a few hours a day with her children. Created another great social need- affordable, high-quality day-care facilities for preschool children.

4. divorce and the declining role of fathers in the lives of American children -> do not live with their father

most couples have only one or two children. Therefore, children don't have the kind of companionship they once did from a large group of siblings

frequent moves deprive the family of long-lasting friendships and contact with the extended family.

5. nursing homes and retirement residences

6. Generation gap or Teenagers are ambivalent about parental control and help

II.