Because Joyce saw what her mother went through when her father had an affair she knew she would not have the same reaction when she found out her husband was having an affair. She didn’t want her child to witness the same things that she witnessed when she was a child. Joyce’s parents had a major impact on how she handled the situation which has an impact on how Jack grows up. Joyce’s family history had a major impact on her current interactions with her husband because she knew she wanted a different life than the one she saw her mother live. Because of this family’s history Jack will have attachment challenges. Since his father is not in the house he may think that it is because of him that he left or feel angry because he didn’t stay with his mother. Also, since his mother is telling him that his dad is bad be may believe that he is bad because he is similar to him. The family lost an income, so he may start to have issues because his environment is shifting and he will no longer have a comfortable lifestyle. He could also have trouble attaching to his mom because he may blame her for his father leaving. Discuss some of the intergenerational themes that emerge from this story. How does family history influence current interactions within the family?
What are the reasons for wanting to change Jack’s name? How might a name change influence Jack, given his current stage of cognitive development?
Discuss the attachment challenges associated with this family’s history. Who are the strongest relational supports in Jack’s life? Do you think anything can be done to bolster his attachment systems?
