Moving and Family Relations

Every year thousands of Americans move from city to city, state to state and in some instances to countries abroad. Chasing the American Dream is forcing people to migrate. 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.

Two or three generations of family living together in the same house or the same city comprises the traditional American family. This model is still prevalent in rural America but is becoming scarce in the cities. Better economic prospects in states other than that of original residence are forcing the Americans to take a hard choice. These choices include moving away which has an adverse effect on their families. 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.

It is not that just the elders are 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. Relocation involves a careful management of your budget as well as your various insurance policies. A move abroad requires far more careful financial planning than an interstate move. The financial health of unitary families is also affected. 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. Relocation involves, in most cases, leaving behind a part of your family, that vacuum requires to be filled up. 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. Why are Americans going in for psychiatric counseling in increasing numbers? The answer possibly lies in the disarray caused by the breakdown in the American family social structure - a possible outcome of migration. So should we as Americans reevaluate the way we have become or continue to chase the eternal rainbows - thats the question that needs answering.