There are always exceptions to any rule. Statistics can give a general pattern of society’s trends but there are always those that defy the odds and do not fit the general pattern. As I read Mary Ann’s article, I was saddened to read the sad state of marriage in America. Sadly, it’s no different in Australia.
When our daughter was at school she was one of few who had parents who were together and had only ever been married to each other. As Mary Ann’s blog mentioned most families had step parents, step sisters, stepbrothers. Listening to many of the children Mick and I teach, their situations are similar.
But what made me chuckle a little in the statistics quoted were biggest factors in staying married. At the time we were married, neither my husband or myself had a college education but left at the end of high school. We never had an income of over $50,000. Yes, we did have a baby after we’d been married seven months or more. It was actually several years after we were married. We both believed time to know each other was important before introducing children to the equation. We were not over 25 -in fact, we were both under 21. Like I said, there are always exceptions to the rule. We’ve managed over 40 years and still going strong.
Mick is still my love and my best friend. Now that he is retired one of the things we enjoy is being able to spend more time together. We do a lot of things together, though we still both have our own individual interests and time apart as well. For example he’s gardener, I’m not. I’m involved singing and choirs. He’s always happy though to come and listen when I am involved in a concert.
My calendar for yesterday says,’If we celebrate the years behind us, they become stepping stones of strength and joy for the year ahead.’ I can’t tell you where that quote came from as it is anonymous but I agree with the sentiment behind it. We will continue to celebrate the love that brought us together and keeps us together as well as all the little tips we’ve picked up all the way about long lasting marriages.
After yesterday’s post I received an email from whom a woman who has written a coffee-table book, on the topic of long lasting marriages, giving interviews and tips from the men and women who’ve achieved 50 years or more of marriage.
Please visit these related blogs
Secrets of Long Lasting Marriages