Moving and the Impact on Family Relations
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. Moving has it pros and cons. On the downside, moving is at the price of the social well being of the traditional American family.
A conventional American family consists of at least two generations living together, with the elders living in the same house or in the same city. This concept of family is epitomized by rural America, but is fast losing relevance in cities where unitary families are a norm. Economic reasons are forcing Americans to make hard choices. More often than not they choose to move with its direct adverse effects on their immediate family. The elders of a family are the most affected when a decision to relocate is taken. The choice to move usually involves leaving behind the elders. The elders are thus faced with an empty nest which has a direct impact on their emotional health. Families moving sometimes opt to put their elders in old age homes and institutions for the aged so as to concentrate on their aspirations. Some senior citizens cope up with this banishment, while others find that sadness and melancholy dominate their lives.
Along with the elders others are also 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 is never easy on the pocket. Relocation involves a careful management of your budget as well as your various insurance policies. A move abroad requires far more careful financial planning than an interstate move. Even unitary families are greatly affected financially. 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.
Moving also affects the way families relate to each other and the society at large. The vacuum created by loss of family members requires to be filled. When suitable role models do not fill the space, siblings become vulnerable to the darker sides of human nature and at a later stage visits to the psychiatrist become a norm. Ever wondered why the psychiatrist has become such an important figure in daily lives of Americans? The answer possibly lies in the disarray caused by the breakdown in the American family social structure - a possible outcome of migration. The issue that needs to be addressed is whether we as Americans must reconsider our choices, or continue our quest for fulfilling the American dream at all cost. Related articles Storage
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