Module 13 Case Study - The Perez Family 2q6b65

1. Luis and Maria are classic examples of transitions that occur during midlife. Based on the case study, what are the areas of transition? Identify the transitions and discuss what this will mean to their selfidentities and for the family system. Moving the family to a new country with plans to begin launching their children enabling Luis to focus on his work are common transitions during midlife. Luis and Maria have gained a new perspective of their world and who they are in it, including a new definition of self, new expectations about what they want to accomplish, and a new satisfaction in living. (Ashford & LeCroy 2013) Their new life was designed to facilitate guidance for children, primarily through education. 2. Identify the red flags or areas of concern for Luis and Maria. Write a summary discussing consequences of the red flags that have been identified. Areas of concern include the loss of Luis’s father, who helped run the family vineyard and the withdrawal from the family by Luis’s mother, who was also a family caregiver. Luis’s parents helped Luis and Maria in their roles as provider and family care taker, without their contributions Luis and Maria will have added stressors placed upon them in their roles. Luis, being diagnosed with MS, will have to relinquish the role of provider. Maria, now the sole caregiver, is tasked with caring for all of the children and her husband, while carrying a child. These changes will certainly cause stress on the couple and possibly even resentment. 3. Identify the tasks, according to Erikson, that need to be completed by Luis and Maria. Do you see any interruption of these tasks? According to Erikson, Luis and Maria need to reach out to others in ways that guide future generations. (Ashford & LeCroy, 2013) Their new life was designed to complete this task, however circumstances have changed. Rolando’s education, the Perezs’ primary reason for moving to a new country, is now being discouraged, which may inadvertently discourage the younger children from seeking a higher education in the future.

4. Do you see any economic implications for the family in the future? What does this mean for future developmental tasks for Luis and Maria and for their entire family system? Will the economic implications have an effect on the transitions and trajectories of the family ? With Luis ill and his father gone only Rolando is left to work the family vineyard, this may mean hiring someone to help with the work, which will decrease the vineyards profits. Additionally, the medical bills for Luis and his father will drive the family deep into debt. This has already caused the family to change Rolando’s trajectory, he will now run the family business instead of attending college and this may apply to some or all of the subsequent children as well.