Vignette (Short Story)

Concept to go by: Parental conflict You are tasked with designing/creating/fully developing a vignette for a Family (minimum requirement is at least ONE parental unit, 2 children, but can include grandparents, more children, etc.) with at least one, but preferably TWO children within this middle childhood phase. Explain where each member of this family is, what each member of the family is like, how they are interacting with each other (or not), what they are each doing, etc. Each individual in this class will be provided, via Cochise College email, something different to incorporate into his/her vignette WITHOUT spelling it out…in other words provide enough CLUES about what you were sent without coming out and saying it. Be sure to incorporate: Health – habits and problems Cognition – Piaget, Vygotsky, Information Processing, and the Maturing Brain Teaching and Learning – Language and Schools Developmental Psychopathology – Any special needs or Special Education issues AND/OR Gifted-and-Talented The Nature of the Child – Self-concept, Self-esteem, Resilience, and Stress Families and Children – Shared and non-shared environments, structure and function of the family, family troubles and impacts The Peer Group – The culture of children Children’s Moral Values – Reasoning and values Example:Julie is a single mother of two children, Cynthia is eight and Charlie is twelve. Julie had a happy stable home until her husband George recently died in an automobile accident causing Julie to become a single parent with two grieving children. George had always been the provider and Julie was a full-time mother. They had such a happy home until the accident. Recently Julie has been struggling. She does not know how to be the sole provider and is always worried about how she is going to pay the bills. Recently the electric had been shut off but, Julie was able to get it back on through a community program that helps pay the bills. It has also been hard for her to keep food on the table. Their days of lush food on the table was over and they now eat food on the run more than a healthy meal. Julie is also not able to attend Charlie’s baseball games anymore as she always has in the past. She is also worried how he is going to be able to continue playing next year as there is no money left to pay for these types of “extras” anymore. Julie is worried because Cynthia was excited to begin playing softball next year with all of her friends. It would be hard enough to pay for one to play sports especially two children. The children both attend public schools and were very sociable. Charlie has become very withdrawn and is severely depressed since the passing of his father. He does not show the willingness to try anymore. His friends try to get him to join in but he does not want to hang out with them. He does not want them to see him so sad. He does not want to be teased because he cries. He is not bouncing back very well and has been told he may need to see a therapist. This embarrasses him, and he is beginning to think about suicide. Cynthia, whom has been gifted since preschool and was very ahead of her class. Lately however she is not doing so well in school. Her grades are slipping. She has never had many friends because she was so smart the other kids made fun of her. Although she is only eight, she has recently begun doing quite a bit more work around the house. She gets home from school and has no time for homework, there are many chores to be done. She has lately had to start washing her own laundry, doing the dishes, and helping to get dinner started. She is depressed but, this helps to take her mind off of things. She has become a little angry and does not like to eat very much. She is also very worried about her mother, but her mom is never around to talk to about this since she had to recently pick up a second job. She seems to be all alone in this and has no one to talk to as she has few friends. The teachers have recently noticed the decline in her grades and her falling asleep in class. This has been brought to the attention of the school’s principle and the counselor. They are looking into finding her some therapy and hoping to get her out of her depression.