April 29, 2022
top trending topics
😅 Not a fan of your future in-laws? Use these tips to coexist.
👀 Do you know the difference between self-care and self-comfort?
💃 Having a regular date night is a game-changer. Here’s why.
💬 Pro Tip: Start your marriage off with excellent communication!
🙈 As a newlywed, expectations can be tricky, so here’s a little advice.
tips & tricks for growth
7 ways to reduce your risk for divorce before marriage
Engaged couples spend endless amounts of time planning for their special day. In the excitement of wedding showers, choosing the flowers and the cake, and finding the perfect dress, some wonder if they can make it work. They don’t necessarily question their love for each other, although some actually do. It’s more about wondering if they can reduce their risk for divorce.
Most scholars agree that couples marrying today face a substantial risk of divorce. Many couples, however, don’t realize that certain factors increase their risk.
Individual Characteristics Linked with Higher Rates of Divorce:
- Marrying at a young age (younger than 22)
- Getting less education
- Having parents who divorced or never married
- Being a more reactive personality to stress and emotion
- Having a prior marriage that ended
- Prior to marrying, having sex with or cohabiting with someone other than your mate
- Having a very low income or being in poverty
get your marriage off to a great start
What makes a marriage really work? Is there any way to guarantee that love can last forever? Here’s how you can get your marriage off to a great start.
It has been said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
Many people are in love with the idea of marriage. However, many couples fail to prepare for inevitable bumps in the road ahead.
Get premarital education.
Education allows couples to identify potential areas of conflict and discuss them before saying “I do.”
Learn how to resolve conflict and communicate effectively.
How you manage conflict is a strong predictor of marital success or failure.
Learn what your partner expects from marriage.
Knowing what you expect from each other can prepare you for the years ahead. Unrealistic and unmet expectations often lead to resentment.
Be committed to the permanence of marriage.
Commitment, as well as love, is a choice. Couples who believe that divorce is not an option are less likely to take steps toward ending their relationship.
what we’re lovin’
This week’s picks come from Reggie Madison, a husband, Dad of 7 (Yes, you read that right, he and his wife are wayyy outnumbered!), and the VP of Community Relations here at First Things First! Take a peek at his recommendations for this week because they are just THAT GOOD. Check ’em out 👀:
🤑 Mint.com– A good resource to help couples start managing their money together. You can track your cash, create custom budgets, and pick up tools to help you work together financially, as a couple.
💻 Covenant Eyes– Porn in marriage is having a tremendous effect on marital relationships. This site helps someone dealing with porn addiction. It’s also for the spouse, friend, friend or parent of someone with a porn addiction. It’s flush with information, accountability, and filtering to provide a well rounded approach to addressing the issue.
🎾 Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort– I know this has been out a long time. It may not compare to PlayStation, XBox, or any other gaming system available. Those aren’t games me and my wife find joy in together. Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort is something more interactive that we can enjoy together regardless of our interest in sports or video games.
share the love
Know a friend who would love reading all the relationship goodness we’ve packed in here? Go ahead and share it with them!