Emphasizing the use of family systems theory to explain how the relationship between parents and children functions and operates, this text has been updated to examine parenting children issues in a contemporary society. Discussions of a family life career model, the family life spiral model, and of developmental change theories that relate to parent-child relationships, such as Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, are presented. Explores the issues that parents face from their child's conception through early adulthood, making this a rich resource for those wishing to explore the complexities of parent-child relationships.