Preface

Abstract

In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.Alex Haley, American authorIn opening a previous special issue of Contemporary Nurse - 'Advances in Child and Family Health Care' (2004/2005) [ISBN13: 978-0-9750 436-3-3] - we considered the 'family' and particularly looked at the ways that 'family' as an institution has been scrutinised. We acknowledged the crucial role(s) that families play in child health and well-being (Derbyshire and Jackson 2004/5). In this current issue, we look more closely at families and children, but also consider some other issues that impact on families, and well-being of family members of all ages. In introducing this collection of papers, we would like to draw particular attention to the difficulties that many family members face in trying to achieve balance in key areas of their lives.Nurses working within communities are often called upon to work with families whose resources are stretched to the limit. All sorts of pressures can impact on families and their ability to provide nurturing and positive environments for members. Many families experience economic difficulties, and financial hardship can influence the ability and resources of families to solve problems. At the other end of the spectrum, many families can be comparatively wealthy yet still seem unable to achieve that elusive 'happiness' or balance. In a world that is shrinking by the day, more and more families have little support from extended family due to geographical or interpersonal distance and this can contribute to a sense of aloneness and isolation, particularly when family members are experiencing difficulties and challenges. Many families are time poor, with family members (particularly parents) exhausted and struggling to achieve that perfect 'lifestyle': to meet the competing demands of full time work, running their homes, maintaining family relationships, parenting their children, and/or meeting the needs of older relatives. And all the while, the relentless prattle of the marketers and advertisers continues to urge us that 'Yes, you can have it all'. Perhaps we can, but perhaps too, 'having it all' comes at a price.The potential vulnerability of families with young children is well recognised. In addition to adapting to life with a young child, many women return to work between 6 weeks and 12 months after childbirth. Though this may have the benefit of bringing in additional income and so help provide financial resources, it can also create other pressures. Working families with young children are faced with issues associated with obtaining affordable, quality child care and making decisions about the pros and cons of home-based care versus long day care. Then, as children get older, there are whole new sets of decisions to be made about schooling, out of school care, vacation care. Families with older and even adult children also have demands placed on them that can cause tensions between the need/desire to work in paid employment and the need/desire to meet family obligations.Working parents (and grandparents) have become the norm in many parts of the world and yet, ideally, every family would have a carer in the home. …