Marriage is a lifelong union between a husband and a wife, who develop an intimate relationship. Emotional intimacy is the state of being emotionally connected to another person. Emotional maturity is the ability to assess a relationship or situation and to act according to what is best for oneself and for the other person in the relationship. Divorce is the legal end to a marriage.

Marriage Marriages are created by the strength of loving actions, commitment, compromise, and emotional intimacy. Deciding whether to marry is one of the most serious decisions a person can make. A healthy marriage requires that both partners work together to meet each others needs.

Responsibilities of Marriage: LOVE- In a healthy marriage, spouses show their love for each other through actions and do not depend solely on feelings of love. (feelings of love change over time) COMMITMENT- In a healthy marriage, spouses make a commitment, an agreement or a pledge to do something, to work through their differences, remain faithful to one another, and to make their relationship work. (requires that both partners be willing to change themselves for the good of the couple)

COMPROMISE- Compromise in marriage means not always getting your way and sometimes giving up what you want (prioritize needs and desires and discuss) EMOTIONAL INTIMACY- The most common way for a couple to show emotional intimacy is through good communications.

Engagement Period Developing emotional maturity is an important part of the engagement period. It is important for the couple to make sure that the relationship is built on mature love, not on infatuation, or exaggerated feelings of passion. In mature love, each partner tolerates and accepts the other person’s flaws. During this period, couples should discuss issues such as: What are our values and beliefs? Should we have children? How will we handle family members conflict? Should both of us work outside of the house? Where should we live? What are our economic expectations?

Premarital Education Premarital Education classes can help couples openly discuss their goals and expectations of marriage (major differences can surface and a counselor can help the couple decide if those differences can or can not be resolved. If not, the engagement may need to be broken. Other reasons might be physical or emotional abuse or alcohol and drug abuse.

Teen Marriages When teens marry, changes in thinking and behavior are not yet complete. Thus, the spouse a teenager chooses might be different from the spouse the teen would choose later in life. The stresses of teen marriage include: physical and emotional changes, independence from parents and family, financial worries, changes in relationships with close friends, interaction with in-laws, possible parenthood, and education plans put on hold.

Divorce and Remarriage Reasons for divorce: Abuse and addiction Emotional immaturity, marital unfaithfulness, conflicts with family, and selfishness. Communication problems Unfulfilled expectations Different financial habits and goals

Divorce and Remarriage Impact of divorce on teens: Change in relationship with parents Financial status Emotional stress Impact of remarriage on teens: Resentment toward remarrying parent, step-parent, and any step-siblings

Divorce and Remarriage Coping: Remember your parents are doing their best to make their way through a difficult time. Don’t take your anger out on others. Find a way to constructively deal with your feelings. Don’t blame yourself.

Parenthood Responsibilities of parents : Children require a lifetime of commitment, love, and support. Parental responsibility is the duty of a parent to provide for the physical, mental, and emotional needs of a child. Responsibilities before birth: A mother’s and father’s habits before and during pregnancy directly affect the health of the baby. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking drugs can have severe effects on a developing baby such as FAS.

Emotional responsibilities: Children need to be assured that they are loved. Children also need time with their parents. Safety responsibilities: The number one cause of death in toddlers and young children is accidents. Most of these accidents happen in the home while the parents are present. Keeping watch over a child can be a great strain.

Financial responsibilities: Children also need basic items such as food, clothes, and medicines, all of which cost money. Disciplinary responsibilities: Discipline is the act of teaching a child through correction, direction, rules, and reinforcement. When discipline is given with realistic expectations and support, the child will feel more secure, loved, and safe. Parents must teach their children to show respect for themselves and for other people.

Parents and Teens As teens mature, their relationship with their parents may change. This change can be hard on both the teen and the parents. It is important both for parents to be supportive of their teens and for teens to try to understand their parents’ point of view. Effective communication, trust, and understanding allow a relationship to grow.

Effects of Parental Behavior Parents behaviors effect the children they raise. Parents who communicate their love for their children from the moment the children are born give the children a secure emotional base from which to grow into confident adults. If a parent is unhappy, children can feel anxious and uncertain. They may wonder if they are loved. They may feel flawed and abandoned.

Common parental behaviors that build healthy self- esteem in children include: Giving children time, attention, and physical intimacy. Establishing clear rules and limits. Taking the time to listen and communicate with their children. Praising positive behaviors and good choices.

Families Family relationships are important because they influence our emoti0ns and help shape our character, either positively or negatively. Because our families are so important, it makes sense for us to put energy into our family relationships.

Types of families Nuclear – consists of a family in which a mother, a father, and one or more biological or adopted children live together. Blended – made up of the biological mother or father, a step-parent, and the children of one or both parents. Single-Parent – single mother and her children or a single father and his children. Extended – people who are outside the nuclear family but are related to the nuclear family, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins living together.

Adoptive – adults are given permanent guardianship of children who are not their biological children and a new nuclear family is formed. Foster – a person or married couple who are not related to the children agree to house and raise the children for a period of time.

Characteristics of Healthy Families Effective communication – prevents misunderstanding, builds healthy relationships, and provides opportunity for self expression. Respect – refraining from verbally or physically hurting another person, honoring each other’s privacy, and treating each other’s possessions with care. This demands self-control and discipline. Commitment – recognizing and achieving what is best for family members, learning to accept one another in spite of each other’s differences.

Love – family members encourage, strengthen, and show compassion toward each other and are accountable to each other. They express affection and show unconditional support for each other. Building healthy family relationships – when you behave in a mature and healthy manner toward parents and siblings, they often behave that way in return.

Coping With Family Problems Causes – financial problems, difficulty controlling anger, depression, grief, and abuse. Coping – communicate your feelings with people you trust, get involved in a hobby or sport, go to family counseling.