| Summary: | There is a tremendous amount of literature on the
nature of adolescence, as well as the problems and dilemmas
specific to this age group. There is relatively very little
written about parents' own experiences with an adolescent
child, how they experience the child separating from the
family and eventually leaving home.
The following study is an exploratory one. Using a
qualitative design, the study sets out with two fundamental
purposes; (1) to understand parents' experiences of
adolescence and (2) to understand the use of rituals during
adolescence, particularly with regard to themes that may be
present within the rituals. Fifteen couples (mothers and
fathers) who have had children leave the family home, were
interviewed for approximately two hours. The interviews
followed a general interview guide, and were audiotaped.
The findings indicate that there are an abundance of
rituals parents use to mark the transition from childhood to
adolescence as well as recognize the change when adolescents
and/or young adults leave the family home. Another finding
is that parents honor the past and play out themes from
their families of origin within the rituals with their own
children.
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