Family+Life+Cycles

// **The Family Life Cycle is begining stage, expanding stage, developing stage, launching stage, and aging stage.** //

**__Beginning Stage-__**
**This is the time at which the couple marries. They decide what they want to do with their lives.**

**__Expanding Stage-__**
**This is the stage at which a first child is born. The parents adjust to having additional responsibilities. Parents also develop a safe and healthy environment for their family.**

**__Developing-__**
**This stage is when the children are in elementry school and secondary school. Parents start to plan for their children going off to college and being involved in extra-curricular activities.**

**__Launching-__**
**This stage is when the first child leaves the "nest". (college, living on his/her own, working, and/or starting a family of their own.)**

**__Aging-__**
**During this stage, all the children have left to pursue lives of their own. Parents retire, and decide what they want to do with the rest of their lives.**