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Family Life

There was a time when your "family life" consisted of you and your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and whoever else helped raise you, care for you, and love you. Sure, that’s still the case, but as you get older family life takes on a whole different meaning.

You’re probably already thinking of a future that includes a boyfriend or girlfriend, eventually a spouse, and maybe children. Then, family life will consist of you as the caretaker and decision maker.

So, during this phase of your life, in your late teens and early 20s, your family life will start to change. You will begin to take on more responsibility and become more independent, while your parents take on less responsibility and give you more freedom. This transition is a big change for all parents and kids—even more so when a family member has a chronic illness, such as a bleeding disorder.

This section of Step Up will present information to help both you and your parents transition to a new life phase, including: