Information Related to "What Girls Should Know Before Marriage"
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It's
hard to believe that a few decades ago, 45 percent of brides in first marriages
in the United States were between 15 and 18 years old. Now the average
age of marriage is between 27 and 29. That should mean more time to learn
what it takes to have the kind of happy marriage we all dream of. But still
close to half of first-time marriages in Western nations end in divorce.
What are the keys to a successful, lifelong marriage? What should a girl know before marriage?
Questions to ask yourself
Do you want to get married? Why? Why not? When? What do you want to
do before you get married? What is your vision of your life after marriage?
If you don't know what you want in life, how will you know if you have found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with?
What about your religious beliefs? Knowing God and developing that most important commitment in life is a prerequisite to preparing for the second most important commitment—marriage.
A trip to Mars
Likely you know quite a bit about guys from studying your dad, brothers and classmates. But some things probably just seem weird, and some things make no sense at all. Maybe you think guys are so predictable, but then one goes and surprises you. It's like they are from another planet.
John Gray is a therapist specializing in relationships, and he would agree. His book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus is a classic that attempts to help men and women understand each other. Though it can sound a bit stereotypical, it does point out some general differences that can be good to know.
For instance, Dr. Gray summarizes the most common mistake women make in relationships this way: "A woman tries to change a man's behavior when he makes mistakes by becoming the home-improvement committee and offering unsolicited advice or criticism [that makes him feel incompetent and broken]" (1992, p. 24).
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Marriage, preparation for: