Blog #9

Last week we discussed the topic of the parent-child relationship. After leaving class I began to think of ways in which to strengthen these relationships as it is not always the easiest to get along with you parents (at least I struggle with it from time to time). I looked for way to do this and I found a website that gave very simples steps in which families can strengthen themselves.

1. Say I love You

2. Teach your faith

3. Establish a special name or code word

4. Develop and maintain a special bedtime ritual

5. Let your children help you

6. Play with your children

7. Eat meals as a family

8. Seek out one-on-one opportunities often

9. Respect their choices

10. Make them a priority in your life

I know not all of these a relevant any more in everyone's life considering the age of the people in the class but some of these things I believe can still be useful. I was wondering if anyone has used any of these tips when they are with there parents or children? Also, if none of these tips are used today, if any of these tips were used at another point in your life and if anyone has been helped out by these?

Blog #8

Over the last few weeks I have noticed that a few topics keep coming up in discussion. One of those topics is caring for older adults. We have discussed the relationship between caregivers and older adults, the stress and obstacles that goes into caring for older adults, we have discussed whether or not younger people have the responsibility to care for those who can't care for themselves and that no one person should have to have the sole responsibility of caring for a person as it is simply to difficult to do. I have found an article that discusses this topic of caring for older adults further. The article is called "Caregivers strong commitment to their Relationship with Older People" from the International Journal of Nursing Practice. The articles discusses that in Sweden, there is growing need to take care of the elderly because more people are choosing to remain in their homes for longer periods of time. This article closely examined the relationship between those giving the car and those receiving care. The article found that whether the experiences the caregiver has is positive or negative a theme of a "strong commitment to the relationship" emerged. An interest point that the article made is that that the caregivers' commitment develops due to a fear of doing something wrong even when they are acting in the patient's best interest.

I was wondering what people thought of this last point that commitment can be and sometimes is developed out of fear of doing something wrong. Also, any other thought about developing a commitment to caregivers is also appropriate.

Here is a link to the article if anyone is interested:

http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf23_24/pdf/2010/81A/01Apr10/48786734.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=48786734&S=R&D=a9h&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESep7I4zOX0OLCmr0mep7VSs664SLCWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvrkiwr7FMuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA

Blog #7

Today in class we discussed children leaving the house and then coming back to live with their family and we had some really good discussion. We got the views that it is not good for the parents or the children as the parents will be unable to get rid of the children and the children will regress to the maturity level of a teenager and may tend to "leech" (for sake of better word) on to the finances and resources of their parents. Other people were more on the idea that there parents are willing and wanting their children to move back in with them. As I review the discussion again think about my own situation. I am in a situation where finding a job next year is not a guarantee and may not happen right away and I may be in the position where I am forced to move back in which my parents. The good thing is that my parents have always repeated the fact that I will always have a place to live no matter what my situation is. I can not explain how much simply knowing this gets rid of many of my worries and greatly lessens my stress levels and anxiety about my future. The other advantage to the situation I find myself in with having an invitation to move back in if I need it is I do not have to rush into a bad situation in hastily choosing a job and maybe cornering myself into a job that I don't want. This is similar to an episode of the office I watched the other week when Darryl and Andy was interviewing people to take over for the warehouse crew as they all quite because they all won the lottery. Darryl asked them why they wanted to work there and one of them responded....."because I need a job"......Darryl then responded you shouldn't take the first job that comes your way, but you want the right job. This is a very similar situation I may find myself in and going home to live with my parents will simply "buy time" until I am unable to find the right situation for me. I don't even know if parents realize that they are doing this....a move that may help both parties out in the long run.

Also when I go back and think of the conversation we had in class I immediately think of the TV series Everyone Loves Raymond. In the show Robert is forced to go back and live with his parents for many years due to numerous reasons. And while he is there the parents continue to remind him that he is there and alot of the time in a way that is poking fun of the fact that he has to live with his parents. However, no matter how much they say they want him to leave they never actually force him to leave and allow him to stay as long as he wants. As I think of the show I think of the many people who I graduated with a few years ago and many of them are still living with there parents due to lack of other options instead of wanting to be there. This raises a few questions that I had for the class:

1. Do you know anyone that is being forced to move back to live with their parents?

2. Do you feel that you will one day be living back with your parents? If so, do you believe that it will be by choice or due to necessity?

3. Do you fear that if you go back and live with your parents, it will put the rest of your life on hold or do you feel that this will benefit you more than it will hurt you?