Moving and Relationships

Every year thousands of Americans move from city to city, state to state and in some instances to countries abroad. Migration has become a common feature with every citizen chasing his or her version of the American Dream. Such a movement has its effects, some good and others not so good. On the downside, moving is at the price of the social well being of the traditional American family.
Two or three generations of family living together in the same house or the same city comprises the traditional American family. This concept of family is epitomized by rural America, but is fast losing relevance in cities where unitary families are a norm. Economic reasons are forcing Americans to make hard choices. More often than not they choose to move with its direct adverse effects on their immediate family. More often than not, moving hits the elders of a family the hardest. This decision typically involves leaving behind the elders. This results in a sudden loss of known family social circle, an ‘empty nest syndrome which has a deleterious effect on the psychological health of the aged. Families moving sometimes opt to put their elders in old age homes and institutions for the aged so as to concentrate on their aspirations. Some senior citizens cope up with this ‘banishment, while others find that sadness and melancholy dominate their lives.
Along with the elders others are also affected. The absence of the grandfather and/or the grandmother has its effect on the children too. The young lose the opportunity to imbibe the traditional values and lessons of life, which can best be passed by a time-tested oral tradition.
Moving to a new place consumes finances. Relocation involves a careful management of your budget as well as your various insurance policies. Your interstate moves would of course be less painful than say a move abroad, which requires a longer and more judicious financial plan. Even unitary families are greatly affected financially. The childrens need to move may well be financed by the parents thus increasing their burden. The children on relocating get busy with their own lives and the thus the established social fabric also undergoes strain.
Intra-family and societal relations are affected by migration. Relocation involves, in most cases, leaving behind a part of your family, that vacuum requires to be filled up. If this vacuum is not filled by a suitable role model, children may fall into bad company and also may require psychiatric help at a later stage. Why are Americans going in for psychiatric counseling in increasing numbers? The answer possibly lies in the disarray caused by the breakdown in the American family social structure - a possible outcome of migration. The issue that needs to be addressed is whether we as Americans must reconsider our choices, or continue our quest for fulfilling the American dream at all cost.

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