Question

A family is referred to a social worker. The mother says she is constantly tired from going to work, cooking, cleaning, running, and caring for her first child. Her spouse is angry with her for not spending time with him and for not keeping the baby quiet. The couple MOST likely is:

A. having difficulty with the new life cycle stage
B. struggling with serious family of origin issues
C. demonstrating the need for in-home support services
D. putting their baby in danger

Answer 1

The couple is most likely experiencing challenges due to adjustments in the new life cycle stage of parenthood, which requires managing the demands of work, family, and marital relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

The couple mentioned in this scenario is most likely having difficulty with the new life cycle stage. The transition to parenthood is a significant change that can introduce new challenges and stressors as couples adjust to their roles as parents while also managing work and personal relationships. The mother's fatigue from juggling work and childcare, coupled with the spouse feeling neglected, indicates that the couple is adapting to the demands of this particular stage in their family life cycle. This new stage requires a rebalance of family responsibilities, time management, and communication to navigate the evolving needs of all family members, including the child.