Homefront Kids 7
Why Marriage Matters
ABOUT THIS UNIT
Main Ideas
1) Marriage is more about loyalty and sacrifice than about “love.” Marriage is not about being happy or getting what you want; it’s about sacrifice and serving one another.
2) Marriage is not just committing to your spouse, but a commitment to community, to those who came before you and those who will come after you.
3) The research is very clear: The best place for children is in a stable, married, twoparent home. Turns out that is the best place for the adults, too.
Activities
1) Discuss with your parents why they chose to get married. How has marriage helped them in their life.
2) Learn about your ancestors – who did they marry? How many children did they have? Any fun stories about their life?
3) Build a three-legged stool with blocks. If you remove one leg, it weakens its ability to stand. Marriage is like the third leg, helping to strengthen and commit husband and wife to each other and their family.
Daily Resources
Short daily resources for discussing Homefront topics with your children.
Click to expand the daily resource you want to view.
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Resource 1: Marriage is building a life together
Resource 2: Marriage Makes strong Communities
Resource 3: Qualities of Marriage
Resource 4: Example of Lives Built around Marriage
Better together: Experiencing the joys and challenges of life.
Parents:
10 Unconventional Pieces of Marriage Advicie from Divorce Lawyers
Family:
Ellie and Carl
Discuss:
List qualities Carl and Ellie have that made their marriage so lasting and strong. How did they demonstrate their commitment to one another?
Resource 5: How marriage helps individuals and communities
Resource 6: Successful communities care about marriage
Marriage: We’re all in this together.
Parents:
Marriage is a Community Affair
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Family:
Marriage brings families together and builds up a community. Take a look at the community supporting the husband and wife in this marriage.
Discuss:
Is marriage about just the couple, or are there other people involved? How have extended family members helped your family?
Resource 7: Marriage Ties a Family Together
Resource 8: Marriage is about Commitment and Selfless Service
Growing up and old together makes for a more meaningful life.
Parents:
What’s in it for Men? The benefits of getting married.
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Family:
Enduring love
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Discuss:
Do you think that the husband is happy to help his wife? Why?
Do you think it is hard for him? Hard for her?
How did this husband show qualities of covenant marriage to his wife?
Resource 9: The Truth About Marriage
Resource 10: Marriage brings happiness
Review
Role Play #1
Role Play #1
Scenario:
You and a friend hear a TV show say that marriage should just be between two people who love each other and if that love leaves, there’s no reason to stay married. What would you say to your friend?
Response:
Talking Point: Unmarried individuals had higher rates of mortality (death) than married people — about 50 percent higher for women and 250 percent higher for men. Married people had better physical health and psychological well-being than divorced, separated, never-married or widowed people(1). People who were married reported the highest levels of well-being, regardless of whether they were happily married or not (2).
Citations: 1) “The Benefits of Marriage,” National Center for Policy Analysis, Daily Policy Alert, (2006, 4 January). 2) Claire Kamp Dush and Paul Amato, “Consequences of Relationship Status and Quality for Subjective Well-Being,” Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 22(5) (2005): 607-627. 20.
Role Play #2
Role Play #2
Scenario:
A friend says they doesn’t want to get married until they have completed all their goals first – including establishing their career and having some money on hand.
What would you say?
Response:
Talking Point: Among couples who married and stayed married, the per person net worth increased on average by 16 percent with each year of marriage. Compared to those who remained single, getting married increased one’s wealth, on average, by 93 percent.
Citation: Jay Zagorsky, “Marriage and Divorce’s Impact on Wealth,” Journal of Sociology 41(4) (2005): 406-424. Cited in: Want to be Wealthy? Try Marriage, Cable News Network, (2006, 18 January).
Reflect
Reflect
Parents:
Review some additional Homefront Project articles/videos from the Marriage Matters unit.
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Family:
- What did you learn?
- What do you want to do differently?
- What were you surprised by?
- With whom do you want to share what you learned?
Discuss:
Which was your favorite resource or video?
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