Noting that the movement from young adulthood through coupling and the transition to parenthood may be among the most universal adult developmental transitions, this book uses a qualitative analysis of family narratives to examine the meanings that family members ascribe to the developmental process of becoming a family. Addressing issues of identity, child characteristics, social support, and work, each chapter in the book presents a review of related literature, parents' comments and ideas about the topic, and a discussion of practice, policy, and research implications. The chapters are: (1) "Telling the Family Story: The Backdrop" (Rena D. Harold and Patricia Stow Bolea); (2) "Telling the Family Story: The Process" (Rena D. Harold, Margaret L. Palmiter, Susan A. Lynch, Carol R. Freedman-Doan, and Jacquelynne S. Eccles); (3) "Talking about Identity: Individual, Family, and Intergenerational Issues" (Patricia Stow Bolea); (4) "Narratives of Temperament: Same or Different?" (Carol R. Freedman-Doan); (5) "Tales of Social Support throughout Family Development" (Lisa G. Colarossi and Susan A. Lynch); (6) "Job Talk: The Role of Work in Family Life" (Lucy R. Mercier and Rena D. Harold); and (7) "Telling the Family Story: Subplots and Next Chapters" (Lisa G. Colarossi, Rena D. Harold, and Lucy R. Mercier). Each chapter contains references. (KB)