The Family Life Cycle

The Family Life Cycle describes the stages families typically go through over time. It starts with single individuals, followed by forming couples, marriage, and parenting young children. As children grow, families experience transitions like school age, adolescence, and eventually empty nesting when children leave home. Later stages may involve retirement and adjusting to changes in relationships, often including caring for aging parents or experiencing loss. Understanding this cycle helps individuals and families navigate life changes and challenges, providing insight into the evolving dynamics of family relationships.