Mason entered into the kid’s lives when they were older and does not feel like he should be the authoritarian. He feels like they are Lori’s kids. Lori is resentful that he doesn’t take more of an active role with them. Mason has been a mechanic for over 20 years and he is looking for a job that takes less of toll on his body physically. His school schedule is intense because he enrolled in an accelerated program. To unwind he spends time in the garage drinking, which leaves Lori to do most of the housework. The family is stressed from Kimberly’s move. Allison loves her kids very much but seems at a loss on how to deal with many of these complex issues. She has also missed a lot of work lately due to Brent’s frequent trips to physician …show more content…
Busy schedules combined with internal and external stressors make it difficult for families to sit down and share meals. Studies show that families who eat together are healthier and less vulnerable. Meals tend to be healthier and family bonds strengthen when families communicate and share time together. Children benefit because when they spend quality time with their family on a regular basis, they are less likely to smoke, drink or use drugs. They also perform better academically and have better relationships with their peers. The family in the example has overburdened schedules and are impacted by many types of stressors. They would benefit from spending time together at the dinner table to communicate and share feelings. To assist the family with this intervention, I would work with their schedules to find a convenient time to come together, set up a rotating schedule to lessen the burden on one person, and provide resources and support to ensure success. I would also evaluate and refine the plan as needed using feedback from the family. The goal is to give the family members the opportunity to connect with each other, communicate about life events, and provide family unity and