Family bonds:Adult children and their parents

1.      In chapter 22, the chapter has a topic on family bonds. The type of family bond that I found interesting and comparable to my own life, was the bond between adult children and their parents. Living arrangements seem to vary depending on the situation of the adult children. If they have problems such as financial or marriage problems, their parents are usually supportive. Adults are more likely to live with their parents if they are divorced with children. It was interesting to me how Berger points out that the physical separation does not necessarily weaken the family ties. It is said that the relationship between parents and children are actually more likely to worsen if they live together. I agree with this finding because I have found that distance from my parents, strengthened our relationship. As a freshman in college, I was unable to balance out a job and college. Because of that inability to balance work and school, I had to depend on my parents and live with them. I remember constantly fighting with them to the point where I could not focus and do well in school because of the bickering. Because my grades were slowly slipping, I made the decision to find a job and save enough money to have my own apartment. Being independent was the best choice I had ever made as a college student. Although I still argue with my parents, it is not the same as the fights that we used to have. Just like Berger said, the parent-child relationship is smoothest when both parties are independent and doing well, and troubled when the child has personal problems.