In Diane Wiest’s family there is very little social interaction between family members. Whenever Helen sees her rebellious son, she ecstatically greets him “Gary”. However, Gary never interacts with his mother. He just avoids her and leaves the house. When Helen asks Gary questions occasionally he will answer but with only one word sentences. This is as close as their relationship gets.

This lack of interaction is common in modern families, especially single parent households. Usually the parent works constantly and therefore can’t spend the time needed with her children to develop a healthy relationship (Divorce 254). Therefore, the child feels isolated so when the parent does have time to

About a forth of children in the U.S. live in single family households (Divorce 253). In this day and age, one parent mostly female sometimes raises the modern family. Many of today’s modern families have no father in the house, so the children grow up without a strong male role model (Family 23). Thus, the parent has to take on both roles. This extra responsibility makes it very difficult for the parent to have a life and to do such activities as dating.

It is natural for a parent to be curious about their child’s room, and many have snooped around their son or daughters room. Furthermore, it is natural for a kid to be curious about sex, everyone around Gary’s age is (Child 452). This “dysfunction” is actually very typical in modern households.

Diane Wiest’s family is very dysfunctional and at first sight may seem nothing like the modern family, but upon a closer glance it is revealed that they are actually a very good representation of the typical modern family. Families these days are going through many similar problems that the Wiest’s family is going through. Such dysfunctional problems like Absentee parents, single parenthood, lack of interaction, disrespectfulness, and the pressures of life are common place in the typical modern family.

Beck, Robert. “Teen Sex and Pregnancy.” On

Some topics in this essay:
Helen Premarital, Eventually Todd, Diane Wiest’s, Helen Gary, Whenever Helen, Nona” Family, Todd Helen, Todd Whenever, modern family, wiest’s family, Busy Discipline, Carlfred” Divorce, diane wiest’s, diane wiest’s family, typical modern, wiest’s family dysfunctional, ed 1992-93, family dysfunctional, premarital sex, 35th ed, issue modern, 35th ed 1992-93, typical modern family, lack interaction, absentee parents single,