- Published: January 15, 2022
- Updated: January 15, 2022
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 32
Critical Thinking Assumptions” Scenario: Celeste is a wife and mother of two young children. She is in her mid-30s and has decided to go back to work. Her husband, a college professor, works an extra job, and so is tired all the time and does not spend enough time with the family. Celeste wants things to slow down for him. She will put the children in daycare. Shell have a 45-minute commute. The extra money will help Jim give up extra commitments. Economically, they will remain about the same but the burden will now be shared more fairly. She expects these changes will make the family happier.
• What are the assumptions underlying this scenario? (List at least five)
1. Celeste being a loyal wife wants to help her husband as she realizes that the responsibility of her children lies on her shoulder as well in the same way as her husband. She wants to ease the burden put on her husband by working along him and earning for the house.
2. She wants to help her husband in order to make his hectic routine less burdensome.
3. Celeste assumes that her husband may get irritated by his routine and this may cause a threat to his performance in his jobs or may even cause restlessness in the house.
4. Their children may feel neglected by their father and hence her husband should spend time with them and this would happen only if the burden put on him is eased.
5. Whereas, Celestes husband thinks that he may provide his family with a quality life by earning more and hence he somehow neglects his children and wife.
• What should the individuals in the scenarios do to validate their assumptions?
1. By meeting other working couples and discussing and sharing the problem with them. This would help Celeste and her husband to realize the intensity of their problems and the solutions to them.
2. By interviewing the children if they have any negative thoughts about their father or by checking if the children have any feeling of being neglected by their father.
3. Celeste should look for an indoor job which has flexible timing schedule so that the situation of the house does not worsen.
• What are some other alternatives available to the individuals in this scenario?
1. Jim may resign from the other jobs for the sake of his family.
2. Instead of dividing the work, they may try to keep a firm hold on their expenses.
3. By carrying out her plan, Celeste may even create a gap between the children and herself and hence she should look for a job which can be done through her home only.
4. Jim should look for any other job which is flexible with his routine. The job should have a flexible timetable which is according to the demands of the family. This job would also help him to give adequate time to his family.
• How would you check the assumptions you believe are being made? (Discuss alternatives)
1. Jims resignation from other jobs would provide him with enough time to spend with his family and it would create good effects on his children and wife. Jim should consider having a leave from his part-time job so that he can check if his resignation from that particular job would matter or not.
2. Division of work would make it difficult for Celeste to give appropriate time to her home and job and hence it would be hectic for her. She should get advices from different working women and work accordingly.
3. They may design a financial plan and may control the expenses according to it.