Introduction: pg. 3

Ch. 1: The Newly Married Stage: pg. 4-7

Ch. 2: Early Parenthood Stage: pg. 8-11

Ch. 3: Later Parenthood Stage: pg. 12-16

Ch. 4: Empty Nest Stage: pg. 17-22

Ch. 5: Retirement Stage: pg. 23-25

Ch. 6: Death of a Spouse: pg. 26-30

Glossary: pg. 31-34

Works Cited: pg. 35

Sandy and Danny have been dating for nine years and have decided to get married! They are now entering the family life cycle. Sandy and Danny were each part of their parents' life cycle, but are now beginning their own.

Sandy and Danny are happily married. They fell in love at Rydell High nine years ago. They are getting used to living together all the time in their hometown of Rydell. Sandy and Danny are enjoying each other and are learning new things about one another.

Sandy started to stress about getting their house. They are cramped in Danny's apartment above the mechanic shop. Danny told Sandy that once they got married that they would buy a house. However, that still hasn't happened and Sandy doesn't know how much longer she can take it! At dinner, Sandy asked Danny, "When are we going to get our own house?" Danny replied, "Let's start looking right now!" Sandy ran over and kissed Danny. For the first time, they will have something that they will share, their home. "I love being married to you, Danny Zuko!" Sandy exclaimed.

As Sandy and Danny were looking for their perfect home, a little yellow house sitting on the corner of Lemon Street caught their attention. They instantly fell in love with it! The next big purchase was a new car for Sandy. She has been driving an old yellow bug ever since she was 16, but unfortunately, Danny can't make it work properly anymore. Once all the paperwork for the house was signed and it was time for move-in day, Danny surprised Sandy for her 27th birthday with a new car in the driveway. Sandy was filled with excitement and she finally felt like their life together has officially begun.

Ch.2: Early Parenthood Stage

After a year in their new home, Sandy and Danny got pregnant and had a baby boy named Andy. Having a baby caused a strain in their marriage. They started to fight more, but were able to work it out. Andy changed their lives and their daily routine, which took time to get used to.

Sandy decided to take a year off from teaching in order to take care of Andy. Danny worked at the shop for at least 12 hours a day in order to increase their family's income. This caused Danny to barely spend time with Andy. Sandy and Danny rarely sat down to have a conversation, let alone, sleep in the same bed. Sandy usually fell asleep in Andy's room. Luckily, Sandy's mom came over a couple days a week to help Sandy with the house and Andy.

After Andy turned one, Sandy went back to work and Danny was able to work less in order to spend time with Andy. Sandy and Danny had quiet moments together at night once Andy was asleep at 7:30. Danny videotaped every milestone that Andy had. They went crazy when Andy started his first day of school at Rydell Elementary. Danny took about 50 pictures to document every moment of this special day. Sandy checked into Andy's class about three times a day to make sure he was okay. Sandy and Danny were so proud of their little boy.

Andy became interested in swimming and baseball. Danny picked up more shifts in the morning to increase the family's income and to be able to go to all of Andy's games/meets in the afternoon. Sandy had to get a bigger car so she could take Andy and his friends to practice after school. Danny surprised her with a CRV for her 35th Birthday.

Ch.3: Later Parenthood Stage

Andy started school at Rydell Junior High and puberty. He started to talk back more, which caused issues with Sandy and Danny. Sometimes Danny would take Andy's side and other times, Sandy would. Danny and Sandy started to fight more about Andy's responsibilities in the house.

Danny wanted Andy to get a job to help pay for his baseball and swimming. However, Sandy felt like Andy should focus on school and enjoy being a kid. They came to compromise and decided that Andy would help Danny at his shop on the weekends when he didn't have any games/meets. Danny and Sandy had to show empathy for not just each other, but also for Andy.

As Andy got older and started to attend Rydell High, he had more responsibilities at home. He worked on the yard a lot, made sure his room was clean, and took out the trash. As a result, Sandy and Danny didn't have to do much work at home. When Andy turned 16, he got his driver's license and wanted his own car. Danny and Sandy surprised Andy at the shop with a car. Andy worked hard and took care of the car all on his own. He paid for the insurance with little help from his parents.

At one of Andy's swim meets, Sandy and Danny met a girl he was talking to named Amy. A week later, Andy and Amy were officially a couple. This was a huge adjustment for Sandy. She felt like her little boy wasn't a little boy anymore. As Andy and Amy went to their senior prom together, Sandy started to cry because she was so proud of the type of man Andy has become. Danny even started to tear up!

Since Andy was always hanging out with Amy, Danny and Sandy were able to spend more time together. Their marriage is getting stronger. As Andy's high school graduation gets closer, Sandy starts to worry about her little boy. She just isn't ready for him to leave the nest. Andy comforts his mother and tells her that he will always be her little boy. The Zuko family decides to celebrate Danny's 45th birthday a day early so it wouldn't be on the same day as Andy's graduation. As Andy walked across the stage on graduation day, Sandy and Danny stood up and cheered for their son to show how proud they were of him.

Ch. 4: Empty Nest Stage

Andy decided to go to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and attend their medical school to become a family practitioner. Amy has also chosen to go to Creighton, so they are still dating. Even though Sandy had a lot of trouble letting her little boy go, her and Danny have never been closer.

They went back to the routine they had before Andy came into their lives. Sandy cleans the house when she can and prepares dinner. Danny has started to not work as much because of his bad back. Andy does work study at Creighton to help pay for his tuition. He got an internship that had a paycheck to not only help his career, but also to help his parents pay off his student loans.

Sandy is always worried about Andy being so far away. Thankfully, Andy's graduated from medical school and he will be the main doctor at Rydell Family Medicine. As Andy walked across the stage at graduation, Sandy and Danny are so proud of their little boy.

The next big event for the Zuko family is Andy and Amy's wedding! Amy's parents are paying for the wedding ceremony and the Zuko's are paying for the reception. Sandy and Danny still can't believe their little boy is all grown up and is about to start his own family life cycle. Also, they can't believe they will be celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary!

Sandy and Danny soon found out that they will be grandparents! They were so thrilled! Andy and Amy bought their first home all by themselves without any financial help. Andy loves being the town's doctor and Amy works at the front desk of his office.

Sandy and Danny are still madly in love. They feel like they are at Rydell High all over again. Danny's back is still acting up so he has reduced his hours at the shop even more. Sandy has spent more time at Rydell Elementary ever since Andy left because she has missed being around children all the time.