“The United States was once predictable not so much anymore,” concluded Farshad. Farshad answered Kolchak by saying that American presidents had a mixed history when it came to the enforcement of self-imposed “red lines.” He wondered if the United States would be willing to resort to nuclear weapons-even tactical nuclear weapons, as the president had suggested in her remarks-to prevent the Chinese from annexing Taiwan. How long had it been since someone had sought out his opinion? Farshad couldn't help it he felt a certain measure of affection for Kolchak, who, like him, was the loyal son of a nation that had not always treated him or his family fairly. This slight gesture of deference caught Farshad off guard. “What do you think the Americans will do?” asked Farshad. I'm the first to wear it openly since him. This ring remained hidden in my family for many years. Then the Bolsheviks killed him when he was an old man. He was also a naval officer, the Imperial Navy.” Kolchak took a long drag on his cigarette.
Farshad then pointed to Kolchak's signet ring, which at a closer inspection he could see was adorned with a two-headed eagle. Finally Kolchak asked Farshad about his missing fingers. When the video cut out, neither of them spoke. The two of them listened to an address made a couple of hours before by the American president. Kolchak clicked on a video from his laptop. Kolchak's English accent sounded faintly British and old-worldly, as if Farshad were eavesdropping on the conversational mores of a previous century. “I don't imagine you've seen the news,” he said to Farshad. His nose was long, sharply pointed, and red on its tip it seemed as though Kolchak was battling a cold. His small, shrewd eyes were cold and blue, their color slightly faded like two precious stones that had been cut generations ago. With his left hand he played nervously with the blond, almost snow-white hair that brushed the tops of his ears. He wore a gold signet ring on his right pinkie. The only other sound was the aquarium filter running in the corner. Learning new roles related to retirement, becoming grandparents, losing a partner, and health-related changes.“Good choice,” said Kolchak. Middle-age families (“empty/spacious nest” to retirement).Īdjusting to being a couple without children living at home.Īging families (retirement to death of both spouses). Navigating adult-to-adult relationships with children. Launching families (first to last child is leaving home).
Tending to parents’ midlife relationship and career issues. Providing guidance to children while collaborating with outside resources (e.g., school, extracurricular activities).Īdjusting parent-child relationships with adolescents to provide more independence with safe limits.
Socializing, educating and guiding children.Īssessing and adjusting parenting roles as children age and more children join the family. Preparing and adjusting the family system to accommodate children. Stages and tasks of family development STAGEĪdjusting relationships with families-of-origin and social networks to include a partner.Ĭhildbearing families with the oldest child between birth and 30 months. It is important to note that this theory is based on the traditional, nuclear, intact family, which is evidenced by the following stages: Table 1. “(a) its family life cycle dimension that provides a basis for study of families over time (b) its emphasis on the developmental tasks of individual family members and of families at every stage of their development (c) its built-in recognition of family stress at critical periods in development and (d) its recognition ever since 1947 of the need for services, supports, and programs for families throughout their family life cycles.” This theory was different from other theories during this time because: A set of parents smile at their toddler and new baby. Diana Lang Duvall’s Family Development TheoryĪccording to Duvall’s Family Development Theory (1988), families move through stages in a particular order across time after members successfully master tasks for each stage.