“I Do”, “Maybe”, or “No Way” ???????????????????????? Marriage “I Do”, “Maybe”, or “No Way” ????????????????????????

Why People Get Married More than 90 percent of adults are married. Want to make a life long commitment to the one they love and respect. Want to have children or seeking the life long commitment. Some feel it is expected. Some do not want to be alone.

Successful Marriage What Does It Take? Love and Respect Putting your partners needs before yours Sacrifices Emotional Security What if a certain job you want involves moving What if you want children but your spouse does not? Those who are emotionally insecure may have a difficult time making the kinds of compromises that are required to sustain a partnership. Communication Conflict resolution

Reasons why people do not get married Marriage is not for everyone. Busy Jobs Prefer to be single Those who don’t marry usually have more time with friends and career. Some feel marriage will jeopardize their freedom. 50% of all marriages end in divorce.

Teen Marriage Difficulties If married teens also had a child Financial support while still in high school Married teens find they must leave school to work full time If married teens also had a child Impossible to do the things they once took for granted, ex. movies, eating out, and being with friends Teens might find it difficult to make compromises and selfless decisions. Teenagers are still developing emotionally and probably are not ready to put another persons needs before their own.

Divorce & Remarriage Unfortunately not all marriages are successful Separation- When a marriage falters, couples try to live apart for awhile. Divorce- a legal end to a marriage. Can be very painful emotionally Children Sometimes divorced people decide to marry again This can also be difficult for children.

Parenthood May be the most important decision you will ever make. Rewarding and exciting, but not easy! Requires attention and care 24 hours a day 7 days a week!

If married couples do not want to start a family they can use contraception. Contraception- is a device or method that prevents the fertilization or implantation of a women’s egg. Some are more effective than others. Pg 396 figure 18-7 shows reliability of various forms of contraception.

Responsibilities of being a parent Caring for another human being completely Putting the welfare of your child before everything else Being able to support your child financially and emotionally. Must be emotionally mature This takes years of growth and experience

Responsibilities Cont. Every state requires parents to support their children until they reach the age of 18 (in some states it is 21). Clothing, feeding, and educating a child for 18 years is extraordinarily expensive. Good parents must provide discipline

Discipline It is not easy to reprimand or punish a child for making mistakes. You may have made the same mistakes when you were younger. Discipline that is accompanied by compassion and love is the best way to help a child understand what is right and what is wrong.

For all its difficulties and challenges, being a parent is one of life’s most satisfying experiences. How good of a parent do you think you’d be? Read the Check Up feature on page 397 to find out. Write your answers in your notebooks.