PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE AND PARENTHOOD Unit 3 Lesson

PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE AND PARENTHOOD Unit 3, Lesson 18 National Health Standards 1. 2, 1. 5, 2. 1

INTIMACY IN HEALTHFUL MARRIAGES Intimacy – deep and meaningful kind of sharing between two people Philosophical intimacy – sharing of beliefs and values Emotional intimacy – sharing of needs, emotions, weaknesses, and strengths

Creative intimacy- sharing of efforts to accomplish tasks and projects Physical intimacy – sharing of physical affection – touch, caress, hold hands, kiss, sexual intercourse

5 DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF MARRIAGE Master certain tasks within each stage to develop and maintain intimacy Tasks depend on age and length of marriage Designed to help couples stay together

STAGE 1 – FIRST 2 YEARS OF MARRIAGE Maintain individual identity Develop cooperation and reduce need to control Develop sexual bond that leads to deeper intimacy

Effective decision-making style Recognize difficulties in others’ marriages and anticipate how they will affect your marriage

STAGE 2 – 3 -10 YEARS OF MARRIAGE Recognize and confront weaknesses Examine relationships and avoid dysfunctional behaviors Reaffirm commitment Examine influence of children and agree on child-rearing methods

STAGE 3 – 11 -25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE Maintain identities and develop mutual dependence Forgive mistakes Confront the crises of middle age Maintain and develop intimacy

STAGE 4 – 26 -35 YEARS OF MARRIAGE Re-evaluate tasks from the previous stages Recognize physical changes Grieve over losses

STAGE 5 – 36 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND ON Prepare for retirement Renew intimacy Prepare for own death and death of partner

TEEN MARRIAGE 8 developmental tasks of adolescence If teens become parents, these development tasks are never mastered before becoming a parent

To reduce the number of separations and divorces, we need to reduce the number of teen marriages More than 50% of teen marriages end in divorce

8 DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS OF ADOLESCENCE Develop healthful relationships with members of both sexes Become comfortable with your gender Become comfortable with your body Become emotionally independent from adults

Learn skills you will need later for a successful marriage and parenthood Prepare for a career Have a clear set of values Understand achieve socially responsible behavior

10 FACTORS USED TO PREDICT A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE Age … teen marriages have a high divorce rate; while marrying later seems to be more successful

Reasons for Marriage … Those who marry to love and nurture one another and share intimacy more successful than those escaping something

Similar attitudes about children and child -rearing Similar interests Commitment to sexual fidelity Good character Parent’s success at marriage

Parental attitude toward potential marriage partner Careful selection of marriage partner