Extended or (Joint Families)
These may be seen as a contrast to nuclear families and are seen as pretty basic as well. An extended family is several generations of the same family living in the same household or in near vicinity or neighborhood. Extended Families may include aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents, grandchildren, children, etc. Extended families are seen as a little more closely knit than other types of families. This may be because of their wants to be near each other or live under the same roof. Some may see this as signs of showing care, love and compassion for their family members. Extended families are common in “countries like Mexico, India and Africa”.
Single-parent families
Single-parent families have the same definition as their name, one parent living with one or more children. They must basically bring up their children themselves, considering they have no spouse. Many factors can provoke the creation of single-parent families, including a death of a spouse, divorce between the two spouses, etc. It is said that children living with one parent may be a little off balance as opposed to children living with both parents. No father for a son or mother for a daughter may have side effects on the children’s morale, behavior and possibly health. The single mother or father will be forced to work ‘long hours’ to provide, causing them to ‘miss out’ on quality time with their children. Even the long hours may cause financial problems in the family, not only stressing the mother but consequently affecting the children. Divorced spouses often let their children visit both parents; this may help the children’s morale.
Reconstituted family
A reconstituted family is when two previously married spouses begin a relationship and get married. However it can only be referred to as ‘reconstituted’ if the spouses had children in their “previous marital relations”. The spouses’ spouse then becomes that spouse’s step-children. For example, if Bob married Jane; Jane’s children would be Bob’s ‘step-children’ and he their ‘step-father’. In contrast Bob’s children would be Jane’s step-children and she their ‘step-mother’.
Childless families
Childless families are a little different than the other four families. Nuclear, extended, reconstituted and single parent families all had to involve children to be named what they are. However, a childless family is just what it it’s called, a family with no child. This is two parents living without a child. They may not be able to have children or choose not to. Childless families tend to have better financial situations than families who have children. Most female athletes tend to not have children because of their career and traveling businessmen or women decide that they don’t want their hands caught up with children. Whatever be the case, the couple does not have any children. Some childless couples who may have wanted families may have replaced their child with a pet, “To replace children, childless families usually have pets instead”.
