Family Life in the New Millennium

June 2005

Results from an interesting study of families are emerging.  Researchers recently completed a four year study of 32 families.  Since the majority of North American mothers work outside the home, this study sought to understand the intersection between family life and work.  While two salaries may allow some families to own a bigger home, drive better cars or take nicer vacations, for others two paychecks are simply a necessity to keep food on the table.

Using digital video cameras, scientists recorded each family for a week, from the time they got up until they all went to bed.  As part of the study, an archaeologist sifted through the family's belongings to get a better sense of their life style, and psychologists required everyone to spit into test tubes several times a day to measure the rise and fall of stress hormones present in the saliva.

What quickly became apparent was that three jobs exist in households where both parents work:  two careers plus parenting, with only two adults to fill the roles.  Parents and children live virtually apart at least five days a week.  When together, families tend to stay in motion with lessons, classes, games or shopping.  Husbands have not cut back on their work and mothers still bear the responsibility of running the household and childrearing even while working full time.

Archaeological findings reveal households full of clutter (literally piles of 'leftovers').  The world has never before seen consumption on this scale, with more 'stuff' arriving every week.  Researchers believe these trends gradually erode families from within, resulting in less time for play, conversation, courtesy, and intimacy.  They fear the constant motion of modern families can cause health problems as stress becomes chronic.

These preliminary findings cause us to pause once again and ask ourselves:  are our priorities in order?