Marital Adjustments Journal What adjustments do you think you’ll have beginning a marriage? What are some of your expectations? Text Read Pg Do Review #12, 13 pg. 210

Marital Adjustments 1.Children 2.Sexual Adjustments 3.Money 4.In-Laws 5.Dual Careers 6.Needs & Expectations 7.Roles

1. Children What adjustments would they bring?

2. Sexual Adjustments 1.Expectations  “Forbidden Fruit” & “Fireworks”  Instead of flowers and dressing up for a date, you fall into everyday routines. 2.Importance of Sex in Marriage  Sexual intimacy gives a level of closeness and loving intimacy.  Sex is not the most important thing in marriage.  The quality of the marriage can be reflected in the quality of the sexual relationship.

2. Sexual Adjustments Continued 3.Variety of Needs  One partner usually has a stronger sex drive than the other.  The hormonal release is more constant in males.  It is more cyclical in females.  On average, husbands seek sexual relations in marriage 7 times more often than their wives.  Social conditioning  Females are taught to be more inhibited before marriage yet be passionate and seductive after.  Your sexual relationship is like any other relationship, you have ups and downs.

open and honest communication that focuses on the good and assists the relationship to move forward into a more positive situation for both partners. The key to a happy and healthy intimate relationship in marriage is…

3. Money How will you need to do things differently with money now that you are married?

4. Building In-Law Relationships 1.Develop a relationship with your in-laws. –Establish relationship with new parents, give time to adjust. –Do not interpret interest as interference. –If they give advice…talk it over with your spouse. –Look for positive characteristics, treat with respect. –If conflict is unavoidable, keep visits short. 2.Grow into a new relationship with your parents. –Withdraw closeness (not love) from parents and siblings. 3.Build your relationship with your spouse. – Do not discuss your spouse’s faults with others. – Continually build your marriage, spouse is #1 priority. – Do not hold your own family up as a model.

5. Reasons Women Work Economic Factors – 20% of families are supported by single mothers. – Often the husband is the major wage earner, but the wife’s earnings raise a family above the poverty level. Changing Gender Roles – Many women seek to be involved in the work force for personal fulfillment as it has always been for men. Family Life Cycle Changes – There remains about 25 years for employment outside the home after the children are raised.

Problems Encountered by Two-Income Families Competing demands of career and family life. – There is less time to spend with the children. – There is even less time to spend with the spouse. Working women often suffer from high blood pressures, headaches, tension and depression caused by stress. – Men have been slower to accept the household family role than women have been to accept the employment role.

Other Conflicts Work hours may be opposite each other. Shift work causes multiple problems with transportation and arranging for child care. There may be jealousy between spouses if one earns more money or has a more prestigious job.

Two Careers + Children = Stress Define the Situation Establish Priorities Compartmentalize Work and Family Roles Compromise Careers Reorganize Get Organized Strengthen the Marriage Buy Time Establish Friendships With Couples Like Yourselves Negotiate Work Arrangements

Marital Interview Interview 4 couples at different stages. Write a paper summarizing the interviews. Make sure you include the specified information.

Internet Quiz on Marital Adjustments

Marital Adjustments Pamphlet Create a pamphlet that explains 5 areas of Marital Adjustments. It should be like one you would pick up at a marriage counselors office. Follow the rubric for grading.

Marriage News You Can Use Half of class watch video and half go into FACS office to work on the computers doing your Marital Adjustments Pamphlet. Next class period we will switch groups.