Divorce and Remarriage

            After discussing the different challenges the family faces as together parents and children learn and grow, today I will talk about the challenges associated with divorce and remarriage. You will first be surprised to know that a study has shown that by 2004, 20.7 percent of men and 22.9 percent of women had experienced divorce at some point in their lives and that of first marriages that do end in divorce, about half break up within the first eight years. Throughout time, the divorce rate has changed drastically, primly due to legal reasons. At first, around the nineteenth century the states laws concerning divorce were different than now. While some states would not allow divorce at all, others allowed it only if one of the spouses have committed adultery. State laws now allow divorce easier than ever. For example, a couple in Idaho can get a divorce in less than two weeks without specific reason.

            You would also be surprised to know that most of the times, the reasons why people gets divorce it is not because of infidelity or abuse from one of the spouses, or because of something that they did, but because of what they did not do to save their marriage. Most of the couples see divorce as a solution to their economic problems, disagreements, or emotional disconnection. A study showed that most of the marriages could be re built strong in less than five years. Another study showed that two years later, 70 percent of the couples regret having divorced and wish they would have not divorced. Also, 70 percent of the divorced people remarried. 

            Something that I learned this week is that when two people don’t know what to do with their marriage and the problems, they get discouraged and seek divorce. Seeing divorce as the solution when facing challenges is like suicide. It does not really fix the problem, it just makes it worse. Couples need to take time to fix their problems and develop the attribute of patience as they deal with trails. It is studied that a couple needs a minimum of two years to get a sense of normality, either at the beginning of their marriage or after facing a crisis. Divorce creates a lot of more damage not only for the couple, but to all the family member. Divorce, though in some cases is for good, like cases when it is health or life-saving event for an abused wife, it is not good for anyone. It is sad to know that many marriages end and could have turned out to be delightful. The majority of the couples that are unsatisfied with their marriage can work through the problems and have a happy and joyful union again.

            Most of the families face a lot of challenges during the divorce and after, and most of the couples who get divorce, they remarry. Step families, adopted, half, blended or even reconstituted families face a bunch of different problems. Some of this families are broken families because of divorce, while others are broken due to the early death of one of the parents. Whatever be the case, the parents need to counsel more than any other couple. The step parents now must adjust to the children, and the kids need to adjust to the new family members. There is a lot of changes that bring a lot of problems, but that just like any other problem within the family, it can be worked out. Parents and children can work through their difficulties and establish a strong family. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a happy and bonded family.