What Is Psychology?
The parent-child relationship is one of the longest lasting social ties human beings establish," said Kira Birditt, lead author of the study and a researcher at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR). "This tie is often highly positive and supportive but it also commonly includes feelings of irritation, tension and ambivalence." . According to Birditt, tensions may be more upsetting to parents than to children because parents have more invested in the relationship. Parents are also concerned with launching their children into successful adulthood. Both mothers and fathers reported more tension in their relationships with daughters than with sons. Daughters generally have closer relationships with parents that involve more contact which may provide more opportunities for tensions in the parent-daughter tie.Relationship problems like basic personality differences and parents providing unsolicited advice tend to cause more problems," Birditt said. "It may be that these kinds of tensions are longer-term, and reflect deep-seated conflicts that you just can't escape.Whereas other type of problems can be sorted out but deep seated conflicts remains.according to Birditt, that is bad news. Avoidance and destructive strategies are associated with poorer quality relationships overall. The good news is that both parents and children wanted to fill up the gap by sorting out the problems. "The old adage, 'If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all,' isn't good advice for parents and adult children," she said. "Avoidance doesn't work as a strategy for dealing with conflicts. It appears to make things worse." Source: Diane swanbrow,univeristy of michigan.
HISTORY OF ATTACHMENTThe history of attachment between child and parent influences their relationship in mid- and later life. Attachment is an enduring emotional bond between two people. According to research on attachment bonds, intimate attachments are the center of a person’s life. Attachment between parent and child begins before birth and provides comfort and security to the child.Attachment of children is primarily toward one or two people in the beginning of life. As a child develops attachments with other people, such as a spouse or other family member, he is not as dependent on the attachment to parents for comfort and security. The attachment with parents changes over time; however, it remains important throughout adulthood.The history of attachment between child and parent influences their relationship in mid- and later life. Attachment is an enduring emotional bond between two people. According to research on attachment bonds, intimate attachments are the center of a person’s life. Attachment between parent and child begins before birth and provides comfort and security to the child.
Feelings of closeness to and affection for a parent are the most basic indicators of attachment. Feelings of attachment run high and are more intense during renewal or threat of loss. Attempts to maintain contact and communication with the attached person are called attachment behaviors and are more readily observable than feelings .Each individual has a unique relationship with his parent. This insight may account for differences in the way adult children relate to parents or help in determining realistic expectations from the relationship. Realizing when there are less feelings of closeness may prevent needless comparisons. All families do not have strong bonds of affection, identification or real liking for the other person which create emotional intimacy.
ASSESS THE DEGREE OF CLOSENESS How satisfying is my relationship with my mother/father? How close do I feel toward each parent? How well do I relate to my mother/father?To what extent do my mother/father and I enjoy spending time with each other? Is how comfortable I feel being with my parent time-related? For example, some children find only a few hours or days can be spent visiting a parent without tension or old conflicts erupting.What interests do my parents and I share with each other? How much do we talk with each other about our concerns? About the future? Sensitive subjects, such as death.
ASSESS THE DEGREE OF CONFLICTS:To what extent do you now have conflicts with your mother/father?What are the areas of conflicts? To what degree are the conflicts “carry-overs” from childhood or early adulthood?Are conflicts caused by your parent’s temperaments or your personality?How would you say you have contributed to each conflict? We cannot change another person, but often there are things we can do—for example, improve the way we communicate or change the situation—that may reduce
Answering these questions may not be easy. Old or new feelings may emerge. However, look for new insights. Write down your feelings, impressions and insights. This may help you to determine actions that will enhance your relationship. What is one step that would be realistic and constructive in giving direction to your new relationship or reducing a conflict?
When an aging parent or adult child wishes to reconcile differences, there are several suggestions for attempting to resolve the conflict:Work through feelings, being as honest and open as you can. Things that hurt you in the past may be explained or acknowledged. Often feelings can change and relationships improve through this process. However, it takes a willingness to share feelings and insights. This can be a painful process sometimes.You may wish to ask a minister or counselor to assist you in the process of reconciliation to help you move the process constructively along.Sometimes, by giving yourselves a chance to know each other as you are today, appreciation for the other person grows, feelings and situations of yesterday are put in perspective and acceptance comes more easily.
Filial maturity is another factor influencing relationships and refers to the adult child’s ability to accept her parents as individuals—recognizing their parent’s personal needs and goals, accepting imperfections and failings as well as positive qualities. It implies relating to and supporting aging parents in an adult way. To achieve filial maturity requires understanding, patience and self-acceptance.
Aging parents who are not also achieving reciprocal parental maturity limit the level of filial maturity adult children can attain. Parental maturity means parents also accept their adult children as adults, forego condescending attitudes and willingly accept help from the younger generation.
Do my parents accept me as an adult with rights to my own opinions, values, lifestyles, even if these differ from theirs? Do I accept my parents as individuals or am I judgmental of their choices and decisions? Do I interfere with and try to control their lives? Remember, filial maturity may require working through an old relationship and arriving at a new more equitable relationship.
The following quote from the Family Service Association of America emphasizes the qualities of filial maturity, “If you feel that your parent has not accepted you or loved you, stop trying to make it happen, but begin to find new ways of accepting yourself, loving yourself and validating yourself as a human being. Finish any unfinished business with your parent. If you can, say ‘I’m sorry’ and help make it easy for them to say ‘I am sorry’ to you. Accept them as human beings who happen to be your parents.”
Balance your own needs and those of your parents without feeling overwhelmed or overpowered. Learn to express your feelings and wishes to your parents. Let parents share their feelings, wishes and concerns about aging and the future. Listening is one way to support the elderly parent. This emotional support may be as important as financial or physical care. Be physically involved by touching or embracing if this seems natural to you or your parent.
Take a preventative approach, especially with active parents. Help parents find a way to stay involved with life, to learn and grow to meet their own needs. This may prolong independence. Motivate them by giving emotional support and inspiration. Encourage them to have hopes, dreams, ambitions and new goals. Provide “back up” support as they try new things—travel, a new occupation or remarriage. Make it possible for parents in poor health to keep in touch with others. Bring the stimulation of the outside world to your ill parents by providing books, magazines or conversation. Occasionally help them with refreshments for a small group of old friends in for an evening together.
In other words, encourage aging parent’s self care rather than giving direct services when possible. If you think parents need a change of scene, rather than taking them somewhere, help them plan a trip or outing that they can manage on their own. Buying a pair of comfortable walking shoes and encouraging daily walks for exercise, to the library or to the bus stop only a few blocks away, fosters a self-helping lifestyle more so than readily furnishing transportation.
Adult children can be most effective in relating to and helping parents if they understand the changes taking place in the parent’s life, how they feel about these changes, and the implication of these changes.
One of the most significant characteristics of increasing age is loss—loss of roles, health, financial security, spouse and friends. Losses may be multiple or occur in such rapid succession that the person is not able to adjust to one loss before being confronted with another.
How a parent responds to circumstances may also affect the child’s relationship with him. For example, if the parent complains excessively about losses and how little she sees her adult children, the adult child may feel overwhelmed or helpless to remedy the situation. He may stay away from the parent rather than listen to the complaints. Consequently, the parent may feel cut off from the adult child—thus adding another loss to the list of losses and further straining the relationship.
Very aged parents may withdraw from painful reality to pleasant memories of the past—especially when denial has been the lifetime pattern for dealing with losses. In this case, this withdrawal affects the extent the adult child is able to relate to the parent. On the other hand, the parent may need and want help but not permit the adult child to provide any help because he wishes to remain independent regardless of the cost. Such independence may suggest that the older person desires detachment from family members, not permitting the closeness preferred by the adult children.
You can learn about the aging process, common problems of the older adults and the effect of disease. Find out what your parent wants or needs. The adult child’s and aging parent’s perceptions of service needs sometimes differ. For example, the majority of adult children view personal care (bathing and dressing) and home health care (at-home medical or health treatments or home nursing care) needs of their parents as more important while parents view protection (guarding against crime, checks on daily health and security), bureaucratic mediation (dealing with government agencies and business) and reading materials as more important.
Such differences can have practical consequences. If children disregard their parent’s feelings about needed services or force services that a parent views as unimportant, their relationship with their parent may suffer. Both are likely to feel frustration and anger when it seems the other does not appreciate their views, efforts or needs.
Try to understand reasons for different perceptions. They may reflect different values, communication problems, long-standing conflicts or lack of sensitivity to parents’ needs. Closer contact and observation usually reveal concerns of the elderly. Remember, too, that as long as your parents are mentally competent, they have the right to make decisions affecting their own lives.
- Learn about the developmental changes of middle age and the problems that adult children face today.
- Cooperate with adult children when help is needed.
- Make it as easy as possible for adult children to help. It may mean being more flexible to prevent frustration of adult children. For example, the fragile 95-year-old can permit people other than her exhausted 75-year-old daughter to do the household tasks—even if she prefers her daughter to do them rather than hire someone else.
- Accept help graciously. Rely on others and let them rely on you. This opens the way for the adult child to help with the elderly parent. This way the aging parent permits the adult child to grow to fullest maturity.
- Communicate openly. Build a climate where feelings can be shared and solutions can be reached together.
- Share with adult children what it means to age. You may even help your adult children to accept their own aging.
Families that view dependence needs as normal and varying across the life span—from infancy through old age—create a climate for the development of interdependence. An intergenerational strength with the potential for supportiveness by more generations is created. In mutual dependency the old will not attempt to manipulate or control the behavior of the young nor will the younger generation attempt to take control or treat their parents as helpless. With mutual dependency, the aging parent and the adult child can each maintain self esteem.
Do not expect money from your parents once you are married,decrease your expenses or try to earn more.You know your parents better than anyone else, so if you are at the end of your rope and know they can and will help, then ask. Children are likely to rebel against their parents to a certain extent into their twenties, so don't give them ammunition.This is your children's chance to express their own sense of style, let him express himself better.Help out when you can, as well. Doing the dishes or offering to fix a meal are helpful, adult activities. If you know money is tight for your parents and your finances can handle it, take them out to dinner or buy some groceries, especially if you are staying with them for more than a few days or you bring a family with you. Having some consideration helps prevent resentment that sometimes crops up when adult children spend time at home.
Regardless of how much parents and their adult children love each other, having a good relationship can be difficult. But having some consideration for each other and reminding yourselves of how much you care can go a long way toward establishing and keeping a good relationship.Older the child greater the problems to bother.-----------------
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