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Internet Exercises
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1

According to William Ogburn, families serve six basic functions: reproduction, protection, socialization, regulation of sexual behavior, companionship, and the provision of social status. However, there is a question as to what extent can parents provide these functions for their children from a distance? The Moms Over Miles website (www.momsovermiles.com/) seeks to provide support to mothers who find themselves in such a position.

Visit the site, and read through the types of mothers who are expected to be away from their children for significant periods of time.
  1. Based on this list, do you imagine that there are many mothers who must find ways to be good parents while away from their children?
  2. Do you imagine that many mothers in the past (fifty years ago or more) were faced with the same dilemma?
Click on the link to "20 Activities that Long Distance Moms can do with their children," and read through the list of activities.
  1. Which of the family functions listed by William Ogburn could a mother fulfill fulfilled from a distance through these activities? Which, if any, could a mother not fulfill from a distance?
  2. Do these activities appear to serve any functions for the mothers who participate in them, or are the functions only for their children?
  3. Would it be just as appropriate to have a website entitled Dads Over Miles? Why or why not? What does this tell you about Ogburn's basic family functions?







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