ONE IN A SERIES OF STUDIES OF THE CHILD REARING STUDY (CRS) OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THIS BOOKLET PRESENTS CASE MATERIALS TO ILLUSTRATE THE CRS THESIS THAT THERE IS A WIDE VARIABILITY IN BEHAVIOR AND OUTLOOK AMONG THE URBAN POOR, AND SUGGESTS SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CRS FINDINGS FOR PARENT AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION. VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE LIVES OF ONE FAMILY ARE NARRATED ANECDOTALLY IN A SOMEWHAT PARALLEL FASHION BY THE GRANDMOTHER, HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND DAUGHTER AND SON. THE MAJOR THEMES WHICH EMERGE FROM THE MATERIAL ARE THE CONSTANT PRESSURES OF ADJUSTMENT TO MEET THE DAILY LIVING NEEDS, THE EFFECT OF THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE ON PARENTAL BEHAVIOR AND EXPECTATIONS, AND THE PRECARIOUS STATUS OF THE LOW-INCOME MALE WITHIN THE FAMILY AND OUTSIDE OF IT. TWO APPENDIXES CONTAIN EXHIBITS OF THE CRS FAMILY RATING SCALES. (NH)