USA Today reports on the top 25 influential trends in the last quarter century. Not surprisingly, the radical shifts that have taken place in family composition and lifestyle make up a good portion of the identified trends. Near the top of the list are the impacts of more women in the workforce, challenges of increasing obesity in children, and higher college education costs.
Ozzie and Harriet the quintessential family image from the 1950s, has finally left the country. Even though they never really were the mainstream, they captured the collective nostalgia and imagination of a generation of dreamers.
As my generation (x) makes it way through divorce and remarriage, and remarriage again, I wonder what will happen in the next 25 years. Families can be places of such love and tenderness, yet so fraught and bittersweet and troubling. I like the concept that you may be born into a certain family, but you can always create another one that is more loving and supportive, should you find yours lacking. But I admit, I have a great hope that my kids won't have to do that. I hope they feel that for them, no matter what it looks like, family is love and comfort more than anything else.
