Lesson 1 – Family Flashcards
loving family
these expressions refer to a family that
has good relationships, where everyone loves each other and helps each other. close-knit family
immediate family
Your parents and siblings (brothers and sisters)
extended family
includes all your relatives – uncles, cousins, great-aunts, etc
distant relative
A person who is
related to you by a long series of connections
family tree
to diagram the relationships among your family members
carefree childhood
If you were raised in a loving family, then you probably had a carefree childhood, that means you had nothing to worry about when you were young
dysfunctional family
On the other hand, a family in which the relationships are bad or unhealthy can be called a
dysfunctional family.
troubled childhood
If the children experience abuse, poverty, or problems with the law, we can say
they had a troubled childhood.
bitter divorce
Perhaps the parents went through a bitter divorce – that means a separation in which there were
bad/angry feelings between the husband and wife.
messy divorce
It’s also possible to have a messy divorce, with a
prolonged legal battle involving lots of conflicts about the separation of the former couple’s assets
(money and possessions).
divorce
settlement.
The decisions about the separation of assets are made in the divorce
settlement.
broken home
A family in which there are divorces or separations is sometimes called a broken home
custody of the children
Sometimes the mother and father fight over custody of the children – that refers to who has the primary responsibility of caring for the kids.
grant joint custody-sole custody
A judge can grant joint custody – that means the ex-husband and ex-wife share the responsibility– or sole custody to only one parent.
award sole custody- pay child support
For example, a judge
might award sole custody to the mother, and the father has to pay child support – regular payments to
help with expenses for the kids.
mutual divorce/separation
If it was a mutual divorce/separation – that means the ex-husband and ex-wife agreed to separate
without fighting
on good terms with each other
then they will probably stay on good terms with each other (meaning to have a polite relationship without conflicts).
gets pregnant - a single mother
If a woman gets pregnant without being married or in a relationship, then she will become a single
mother
have an abortion - give the baby up for adoption
Some women in this situation choose to have an abortion, and others prefer to give the baby
up for adoption.
due date - baby is due
The time when the baby is planned to arrive is called the due date – you can also say
the baby is due in mid-October, for example
has the baby - gives birth - adoptive parents - raise the child - bring up the child - adopted child - birth mother
After the woman has the baby (or gives birth to the baby), the baby is given to the adoptive parents,
who will raise the child or bring up the child as if it was their own. Sometimes, when the adopted child
is older, he or she tries to find their birth mother (biological mother).
