Parenting Case Study: Maria Sanchez

Maria Sanchez is a 48-year-old woman who is happily married and has a nuclear family structure. She is a full-time stay-at-home mom who has four sons, one daughter and has a small dog. The first son is twenty-six years old. Her second son is twenty-three years old. The third child is her 20-year-old son. The fourth child is her 14-year-old son. Last but not least, is her 5-year-old daughter. Although Maria wanted a small family, she is content that she expanded. She and her husband raised their children in Santa Ana until they moved in a small town called Tustin. The questions I asked her are broken up into three different topics.

The first topic is the type of parenting style she is using to raise her kids. Maria 's parenting is more of an authoritative style. She does not like punishing her children. Instead, she acts in a rational way and reasons with them. Maria is responsive and sensitive to her children and their needs. At the same time, she is strict about showing them what the right thing to do is. For example, her daughter Mel (not real name) spills milk from trying to pour it into a cup. Maria would give her a compliment such as,"You almost did it by yourself." Then she

She indicates that culture, especially religion plays a major role in their lives. Maria and her family attend church and her children would join the youth group. This is an example of the sociocultural method involving learning behavior. It is a characteristic of the social environment in which the individual grows up. Maria states that because of youth group her children 's social behavior, and judgment improved. Especially, with her 20-year-old son who is somewhat a difficult child. The youth group is an example of group pressure. Good pressure is a social technique to control minor behavior and encourage achievement. She finds that her children are confident with their own judgment and