Moving and Family Relations
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by: joe.moesier
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Word Count: 534
Each year Americans are moving intercity, interstate and abroad. Migration has become a common feature with every citizen chasing his or her version of the American Dream. Such a movement has its effects, some good and others not so good. 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. Better economic prospects in states other than that of original residence are forcing the Americans to take a hard choice. 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. This decision typically involves leaving behind the elders. This results in a sudden loss of known family social circle, an empty nest syndrome which has a deleterious effect on the psychological health of the aged. Families moving sometimes opt to put their elders in old age homes and institutions for the aged so as to concentrate on their aspirations. Such a move is difficult for some elders to cope with and they become depressed.
Along with the elders others are also affected. The absence of the grandfather and/or the grandmother has its effect on the children too. 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. Any relocation is a challenge on your budget management, which would include careful assessment of your immediate liquidity, 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. Even unitary families are greatly affected financially. The childrens need to move may well be financed by the parents thus increasing their burden. The children on relocating get busy with their own lives and the thus the established social fabric also undergoes strain.
Intra-family and societal relations are affected by migration. The vacuum created by loss of family members requires to be filled. 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. Ever wondered why the psychiatrist has become such an important figure in daily lives of Americans? The answer possibly lies in migration, which is causing disarray in the American social structure. 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.
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