Family Relations and Long Distance Moves
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by: joe.moesier
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Word Count: 486
Every year thousands of Americans move from city to city, state to state and in some instances to countries abroad. Chasing the American Dream is forcing people to migrate. Such a movement has its effects, some good and others not so good. One such adverse effect has been the social costs of moving on the traditional American Family.
Two or three generations of family living together in the same house or the same city comprises the traditional American family. This model is still prevalent in rural America but is becoming scarce in the cities. Economic reasons are forcing Americans to make hard choices. These choices include moving away which has an adverse effect on their families. More often than not, moving hits the elders of a family the hardest. This decision typically involves leaving behind the elders. The elders are thus faced with an empty nest which has a direct impact on their emotional health. Moving sometimes involves admitting the elders into old age homes. Such a move is difficult for some elders to cope with and they become depressed.
It is not that just the elders are affected. Children too feel the adverse effects of moving. The young lose the opportunity to imbibe the traditional values and lessons of life, which can best be passed by a time-tested oral tradition.
Moving to a new place consumes finances. Relocation involves a careful management of your budget as well as your various insurance policies. Your interstate moves would of course be less painful than say a move abroad, which requires a longer and more judicious financial plan. The financial health of unitary families is also affected. The childrens need to move may well be financed by the parents thus increasing their burden. Despite doing that, the children may not reciprocate on reaching their new place thus straining the family social relations.
Intra-family and societal relations are affected by migration. Relocation involves, in most cases, leaving behind a part of your family, that vacuum requires to be filled up. If this vacuum is not filled by a suitable role model, children may fall into bad company and also may require psychiatric help at a later stage. Why are Americans going in for psychiatric counseling in increasing numbers? The answer possibly lies in the disarray caused by the breakdown in the American family social structure - a possible outcome of migration. So should we as Americans reevaluate the way we have become or continue to chase the eternal rainbows - thats the question that needs answering. Try this Packrat ... Portable storage ... Portable storage ... Pod storage ...
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