Marriages Not For Kids

According to Andrew Cherlin, a Johns Hopkins sociologist and author of the new book The Marriage-Go-Round, in the United States, "We [Americans] divorce, re partner, and remarry faster than people in any other country." Many of the people racking up multiple marriages are also parents, which means, American kids are more likely than those in other developed countries to live in a household with a revolving cast of parents, step-parents, and live-in partners moving in and out of their lives—a pattern that is definitely not good for children.

Cherlin says he was particularly stunned to discover that American kids born to married couples experienced 6 percent more household disruption by age 15 than Swedish kids born to unmarried parents. When researchers broadened the categories, they were further surprised to find that American families were less stable: 40 percent of American children born into a two-parent family experienced a parental breakup by age 15, compared with 30 percent of Swedish kids. And American kids are 47 percent more likely than Swedish kids to have a stepparent move into their home within three years of a divorce. The bottom line is that while marriage is good for kids, it's best when it results in a stable home. Cherlin further notes in his book that "Many of the problems faced by America's children stem not from parents marrying too little but rather too often." BWrightParents. Reference: Wingert, P., Americans Marry Too Much ,Newsweek, August 31, 2009.

Help Technology is Ruining My Family Life!

Was the subject of an e-mail that I received from a mom living in Georgia. After reading the e-mail, and informing the sender that I’d blog about it, here goes . . . I will do my best to blog about this sticky subject:
Without a doubt, technology adds to the quality of our lives, and the lives of our children. For example, distance learning programs reach out to children beyond the classroom, and e-mail helps us to communicate in rapid succession.

So what exactly is the “dark side” of technology doing to our kids, and our family life? The ill affects of being ergonomically incorrect are clearly visible. However, side affects from over engagement, and to much stimuli, appear to be less visible, as these variables slowly aid as a deterrent to dyad communication. As a result, should parents, return video games to the manufacture, or is it best to reevaluate our parenting styles to insure that time less spent with technology is time more valued with family? Of course, I am a proponent of less time spent with technology, but “easier said than done,” was the response that I received to my reply e-mail. Which leads me to plead for your support for engaging children more with family and less with technology – starting in your own home.

Aside from less communication, which inevitably will equal less moral instruction - what do parents have to loose by opting for less technology time in their homes? Take time out to further ponder the pros & cons of less technology time at your home, or ponder the ramifications of no time limit on technology at your home. . . BWrightParents