noted "boundaries shift, psychological distance among members changes, and roles

within and between subsystems are constantly being redefined" (p. 376). Although broad

stages in the family life cycle can be defined along with accompanying norms and

expectations, the cycle is contextualized by both culture and time (McGoldrick & Carter,

2003). However, there are "unifying principles that define stages and tasks, such as the

emotional disequilibrium generated by adding and losing family members during life's

many transitions" (McGoldrick & Carter, 2003, p. 379).

 Transitions comprise one such unifying principle of this framework, denoting the

end of one stage in the family life cycle and the beginning of another. Although one

might think of a transition as a discrete event, it is more appropriately understood as an

emerging process with varying impacts across different families (Cowan, 1991).

Transitions contain both danger and opportunity. Cowan (1991) argued they are "times of

new and heightened affective arousal" carrying the potential of temporary "affect

disregulation" and negative impacts on relationships (p. 18). Additionally, "the

individual, couple, or family must adopt new strategies, skills, and patterns of behavior to

solve new problems" (Cowan, 1991, p. 17). As such, family life cycle transitions require

second-order changes in functioning rather than simple modifications in the family

system (McGoldrick & Carter, 2003).

 The transition to parenthood is no exception. As families transition from a stage in

which the couple relationship was established to the stage of "families with young

children," relationships must be reorganized and new tasks must be accomplished (Carter

& McGoldrick, 1999). Galinsky (1981) proposed a model of parental development with

its first stage encompassing the time between the mother's pregnancy and the birth of the