Human life and development begin from infancy as one is conceived and transitions to childhood and later develops chronologically to adulthood. Own ages and shapes his or her personality based on certain economic and social decisions revolving around his or her life. Various social norms such as parenthood revolve in many generations, and human lives, as individuals perceive having children and sharing knowledge, information, or inheritance down generations as a crucial obligation that sustains family lineages and humanity in general. This work will highlight and give a clear insight on the decisions; choices and activities adults in the late adulthood choose and execute to influence their children and future generations in their family lineage.
Most individuals as they progress into their late adulthood usually prefer to seek satisfaction and meaning in life and engage in less strenuous activities. Most prefer to let their children take care and manage various properties and businesses they have amassed and built in their entire lifetime. The cycle of life requires young adults to work at the peak of their careers and find more rest and peace as they advance in age. According to Santrock, (2015), the dominant theme in late adulthood is the gratitude and step taken by parents to ensure their children live comfortable lives when they are gone or non-existing in their lives.
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According to Erikson's theory of integrity and despair, most adults prefer reflecting on past life experiences filled with positive thoughts and moments, rather regret they could have done something to make the lives of their children better in one way or another. Most populations in our societies prefer to work hard to make the lives of their children easier, and the subsequent generations do the same for their children. Santrock, (2015) agrees that each generation pays attention to the works of their predecessors, as the children focus on not letting their parents down by working hard to maintain or surpass the economic or social state left behind.
I have witnessed this similar theme and habit in my family lineages. My grandparents prepared my mother and her siblings on how to manage and operate the family laundry business in order as a unit and able to make a good amount of living to fend for individual households in the family. In my grandparent's absence, my mother and her brothers have been able to capitalize on the business idea and knowledge invested in them by their parents. They have been able to propagate the laundry business to new heights as the business has done better than the condition left by my grandparents. Dedication and ambitious nature have enabled the business to profit in newer and more competitive environments.
Comment on Two Other Students
Student 1
I like how in the video the theme is of securing the lives of future generations is illustrated as seen from Antoinette’s parent who followed the same social norm who focused on paving the way for their children’s lives. The family butchery shop in South Philly acted as a family investment where the children were taught on how to conduct and manage the business. Their children likewise pass down the knowledge and skill to their subsequent successors. George likewise learnt how to work on ancient woodworks a skill he passed down as a family business as his wife and children became part of the business which stood out as a good source of income. This is a clear indication of how parents enable the children to be self-efficient and able to sustain comfortable lives for their children.
Student 2
I like how in the film the theme where parents are concerned with how their children and young generations live their lives, as they grow older. This gesture is seen when the elderly are concerned with passing on something to the next generation. Basing on Erikson’s stage of Generativity vs. Stagnation, the student refers to the empathy and concern parents and the elderly show to the subsequent generations. The student gives a good example of the old man who volunteers to visit inmates in prison and counsel them on how to reform and make better life choices with the remaining time they have. The film also depicts a farmer who is also a legislator working on creating a recreational site in his town so that future generations can enjoy their time in the town. This shows on how the elderly still care about the state and condition young generations will lead when they are not present to guide or be there for them.
In conclusion, parents care about the condition and live their children will live once they are gone. Each works hard to ensure their children do not live lives full of hardships and tribulations that could be avoided when they are young. Hence, they prefer to work while young and rest when they advance in age.
