Fondness and Admiration (wk 6)

(http://www.selfhelpexplained.com/how-happy-marriage-subliminal-messages-work)

In John Gottmans book, the Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, he talks about how we can nurture our relationships with our spouses through fondness and admiration for each other. The idea behind this, is to focus on the positives in your relationship and remember what you love about your spouse regardless of the trials and challenges that may arise. He suggests spending seven weeks following a series of  daily positive thoughts as well as a simple task. 

Some of the suggestions are brilliant. One example is thinking about a time where you've had some really good moments in your marriage. You are to choose one of those moments and take the time to write it down. Another is thinking about you and your spouse having common goals, then listing them out. One more I love is thinking about your spouse being your best friend. Then you are to think of a secret you've shared with them that has been kept between you. 

I love the idea of taking the time each day to think of something specific that you love about your spouse or something that has brought you closer together. The idea is to think of these things and complete the task during the times where you may not be with your spouse. I think it would be fun to do this exercise together. Maybe you could each choose something earlier in the day and then in the evening you can share what you chose and what you learned. I think sharing experiences together can strengthen your relationship and create additional memories for you to look back on. I also think it can help you get to know your spouse better and even be used to "check in" and see if any positive changes need to be made in your relationship to ensure your success and happiness. 

Behaviors that Negatively Affect Marriages (wk 5)

(http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/relationships/advice/a16991/how-to-stop-arguing/)

I loved learning about how marriage is ordained of God. I like the idea of everything God asks us to do on earth is patterned after heaven. We know that we must be sealed with our spouse in the temple to be with them forever. This is the pattern of heaven and this is what God requires of us if we are to be like him and live like him. Our marriages are meant to be a source of joy to us and they are also meant to give us experiences. Marriage is not always roses, and if we choose to, we can learn to become more like Christ as we communicate, compromise, and grow with our spouses. 

I also like the idea that in marriage, the happiest of spouses focus on the positive in their relationships rather than the negative. No relationship is perfect, and it always requires effort and each spouse giving everything the can to make the relationship work. In Gottman's book called The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, he talks a lot about the idea that marriages built on friendships last the longest and both are happier. It makes total sense to me that happy spouses genuinely enjoy each other's company and consider the other their closest friend. By nurturing their friendship, spouses can get to know one another better and know how to best serve, love and give to the other person. 

It is through friendship that we are able to sincerely trust and commit to one another. A relationship built on a deep and abiding friendship is bound to result in a successful and happy marriage. This doesn't mean you won't have bumps along the way, but it does mean that you are more likely to be able to repair your disagreements as you go. My mom is always telling us that "love is friendship set on fire." She often talks about her friendship with my dad. She considers my dad her very best friend. They still have arguments sometimes, but they have agreed to disagree and learned to compromise in their relationship. Their friendship runs so deep, that they are able to overcome the challenges that come their way. They are also sure to work on their friendship every single day. They communicate daily, plan dates together, spend quality time with each other, and put each other first in their relationship. I think my parents are a great example of making marriage work. 

Doctrine of Eternal Marriage (wk 4)

(http://quotesgram.com/eternal-marriage-quotes/)

I think there is a trend going on in the world today that men and women can choose to be single (or unmarried) and still live happy and fulfilled lives. While I think it is important to learn independence and have personal experiences, I think marriage to the right person can bring so much joy and fulfillment to our lives that we didn't even know was missing! There are so many reasons that our loving Heavenly Father has made marriage and families the center focal point of His eternal plan of happiness. God knows everything, and it would be wise to follow his council regardless of our complete understanding. Being sealed in the temple and honoring those marital covenants brings the promise of being with our spouse and children for eternity. 

This kind of relationship requires both spouses to give 100%. Both must establish and maintain an eternal perspective as they work out their differences and come closer together through faith, repentance and forgiveness, quality time together, compromising, relying and committing to one another, prayer, strengthening their relationships with each other as well as with God, and follow His council in all things. God's greatest desire is to have all of his children return to live with Him again. He has provided a way that they could not only return to live with him, but to return with their own families as well. Our families were always meant to be eternal. God never promised that marriage would be easy, but He promised that as we honor our covenants, seek the other person's happiness, serve and love each other, and keep Christ at the center of our lives that we would be blessed! Heavenly Father wants us to have the joy that he has and we know that it requires time and attention on our part. He knows and loves each of us perfectly and will help us in our marital relationships as we turn to him, seek his council, and strive to work on our relationships with our spouse every single day. 

Threats to Marriage (wk 3)

(http://wbsm.com/facebook-and-divorce/)

I think it can be easy to lose sight of the importance and sanctity of marriage. I love this quote by Elder Nelson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles when he said, "disciples of the Lord are defenders of marriage." We live in a world where the tradition of marriage is threatened. It has become common and even trendy for couples to live together before they are married, if they choose to get married at all. We also live in a world where it is becoming acceptable for people of the same sex are able to be together and even get married in some places. The Family Proclamation to the World states that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children." 

Men and women are meant to compliment and complete each other. We have different strengths as well as different weaknesses. It wouldn't be fair to knowingly deprive a child of growing up with both male and female parental influences. A father and a mother can both love their children unconditionally. However, a mother and father will both give different needs to each of their children. I remember when I was growing up, my sister and I were constantly turning to my mom for advice and to talk things out. I really felt like she could relate to my experiences because the had similar experiences growing up as a female in high school and making big decisions etc. I remember there being a time where my mom said she was grateful to have my dad when my little brother came along. She didn't know what to do with a boy! I hadn't realized before then, that my brother is able to turn to my dad for all kinds of predicaments and advice because my dad can relate to him on a whole different level that my mom cannot. 

As a child growing up in a two parent household, I am grateful that I've had the influence of both a father and a mother in my home. I can't imagine not being able to go out camping with my dad and asking him for advice when I was having trouble with boys. I also can't imagine not turning to my mom for friendship advice and helping me through all the experiences I've had over the years as a girl and now a woman. I know that not all situations are ideal and there are many times when a mother or father cannot be present in a child's life for safety or tragic reasons. I know that in these cases, there are other role models and influences that these children experience in their absence. I know from experience, however, that it is ideal for children to grow up with both a motherly and fatherly influence. I know that men and women are created for each other. Through charity, humility, diligence, patience, service, quality time, compromising, communication, supporting each other, and working together; families can strengthen their relationships both now and forever. 

Marriage Trends and Divorce (wk 2)

(http://scottcountyclerk.com/marriage-license/)

Before even contemplating marriage, two people usually begin dating. They are getting to know each other and their different interests as well as common-ground. It is important to remember that any two people that begin a relationship are coming from different backgrounds where they had different rules, different families, traditions, familiar roles, experiences, trials etc. Eventually this couple may fall in love, become engaged and eventually marry. I love in Elder Dallin H. Oak’s talk titled “Divorce” where he said, “The best way to avoid divorce from an unfaithful, abusive, or unsupportive spouse is to avoid marriage to such a person.” I absolutely love this quote because I think it can be so easy to be blinded by love. You may not be able to see a lot of the other person’s weaknesses and look past some of their concerning behaviors before you even enter into marriage with them.

 I have a friend that was married this past year. She had dated her spouse for a short time before they decided to tie the knot. About 6 months later, they were filing for divorce. She just kept saying how she had so many doubts and she wishes she would’ve listened to the spirit instead of going through with the wedding because she thought it was what she wanted. So many of his abusive qualities were seen before she was even engaged to him; but she chose to ignore the warning signs and believe him when he promised to change.

 I think there are times where your marriage can be saved and others where you have to respect the other person’s agency and accept that for your safety and well being (and any children that are involved) that you must go your separate ways. I’ve also seen marriages saved through repentance, forgiveness, and realizing that no one is perfect. I have another friend who just celebrated her 3^rd wedding anniversary. Shortly after they were married and the “honeymoon phase” had ended, they began fighting and had very unhealthy communication. Soon after, they welcomed their first baby and that only made matters worse as my friend turned all of her attention and time to the baby and her husband devoted himself to his work. Eventually, they decided to seek help from their bishop. I am grateful that my friend shared just a little bit of her story with me because I learned so much from them.

 I loved in this week’s readings where we learned how important it is to make your marriage a priority and that there is always hope. My friend and her husband had dated for a good while and had been very prayerful about their marriage. They knew it was right, and they had been promised their marriage would be forever if they kept their covenants. I love that they didn’t give up on each other even though it was difficult. I learned that so many relationship struggles can be solved through communication! Forgiveness and understanding are such a huge part of it as well. You can’t expect your spouse to be perfect, and neither one of you are. I think it takes both spouses putting in 100% to make a marriage work. I remember last semester I learned in one of my family classes the relationship triangle. The husband and wife make the two corners at the bottom, and God is at the very top. As each spouse moves towards the Savior, they automatically move closer together.

Blended Families

A blended family is when two separate families unite into one. Let's say that a father of three children and a mother of two have divorced their spouses. These two meet and begin dating. Eventually they get married and their families come together under one roof. This is one example of a blended families. It takes great effort, compromising, trial and error and dedication to make this transition run smoothly.

There are some risks that can make this marriage a bit more challenging than others. For example, the mother and fathers' ex spouses could still be involved in the children's' lives. This could mean that the children are spending time in two different households. This could also mean two different sets of rules and boundaries. Children may be hearing negative things from the other parent as well that could cause tension and resentment when they return.

Maybe the father is the "Disneyland dad" where he comes around every once in awhile and takes the kids to do something super fun. He doesn't have to be there for discipline, rule enforcement, homework, etc. Parents may also fight to be the favorite, causing tension between the child and the other parent. It's also important to recognize that many children blame themselves for their parents' divorce. This can cause problems both now and in the future. The key to blending  a family is to create a new family system that is tailored fit for you. What works for you may not work for someone else.

What makes a great parent?

The reality is, that today many parents are losing control of their children. These are parents that most likely have good intentions, however they are not reaching their desired outcomes. Parents seem to be letting their children get away with a lot more than they should be. Children seem to "rule the roost" so to speak and don't have many rules. If they do have rules, those rules may not be enforced or the parents neglect to follow through with discipline. In order to avoid conflict, many parents let their children get away with seemingly harmless behavior while they are young.

Contrary to what these parents may believe, they may be doing more damage than good. Children need love but they also need boundaries, rules and discipline. They need to understand there are consequences for their choices and behavior, both positive and negative. By setting boundaries and stepping up as the parent, you are setting your child up for success both now and later in life when they reach adulthood. Some parents need to expect more from their children.

That being said, the most important thing you can do for your child is to love them. Spend time with them, go on adventures, play games, take trips and make memories. Part of showing love to your children is by teaching them rules and boundaries. Also by expecting them to follow rules, be respectful and understand the parent-child relationship.