The Importance of Marriage in a Throwaway Society as It Effects Children

As I was reading some material about marriage and divorce, I was saddened by the state of society's views on divorce, births to unwed mothers, and cohabitation (living together) and their effects on children. Many people believe that the children involved are not affected. Some startling statistics said otherwise. Children are being thrown away in favor of the parent’s wants. It is hard to measure the effects that divorce or cohabitation has on children because other factors can play a part in the behaviors mentioned. One chart from Paul R. Amato in The Future of Children, 15(2), 75-96 shows the reduction in certain behaviors if family structures had continued the same as a certain point in time.

When reading the chart, you can see that almost 40% of one-parent adolescents had been suspended from school. Compare that with the 1960’s 25.4% but not with a percentage number. Convert those percentages to real numbers. I do not know what the population of adolescents was in 1995 but a drop of 15% has to represent a huge number of children that could have lived a little better life. When looking at the difference just between a two parent home and a one parent home in columns 1 and 2, the children that have needed therapy more than doubles. When looking at this chart, how can people say that marriage does not matter?

These children often suffer from poverty, abuse, and subpar parenting. Amato said:

Specifically, compared with children who grow up in stable, two parent families, children born outside marriage reach adulthood with  less  education, earn less income, have lower occupational status, are more likely to be idle (that is, not employed and not in school),  are  more likely to have a nonmarital birth (among  daughters), have more troubled marriages, experience higher rates of divorce, and report more symptoms  of depression.

Does this sound like our children are not harmed by anything less than a two parent household? 

Amato also addressed the difference between a single parent home when divorce or an ended cohabitation was the cause versus when death is the cause. It was very interesting that those children exhibited problems in some areas but they are stronger in others.

The old playground song had it right: “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Sally with a baby carriage.”

Here's some marriage advice from Dallin H Oaks.

After completing these articles this week, my feelings about marriage have been reinforced. Our nation’s children need our protection and our guidance to become better citizens than they are projected to be.

Intro to Entrepreneurship Week 14-Last Lecture

If you had one final lecture to share with a group of students on what you have learned from this course, what would you share? 

This course has been a wonderful exploration of the frequent tears, ever present fears, blissful joys, realistic risks, marvelous opportunities, and enormous successes. My mental state varied from week to week and assignment to assignment. Sometimes I felt inspired and other times I felt overwhelmed. I am seeing that other people have “made it” and I wonder if I have what it takes to do the same. I think the video that struck me the most is the one this week of Tom Monaghan who is the founder of Dominos. He was so inspirational because he recognized how prideful he was and he actually did something about it. I loved the phrase “a millionaire’s vow of poverty” and he even acknowledges that he still has a little pride. I thought that was quite funny. I want to be described as Michael Timmis described Tom Monaghan. It is not that he is “trying to give his way into heaven. Tom wants to go to heaven and bring as many people with him by using his money to build the Kingdom.” I think that is a great use for wealth beyond our needs.

What would be your last bit of advice to someone wanting to begin the entrepreneur journey?

My advice is something I should do myself. Just do it. I am afraid of success and of failure. I have paralyzed myself into doing nothing. Do not let this happen to you too. I know that you do not have to have a perfect product or service to get started. Just get out there in front of people and they will actually help you know how best to improve your business.

What words of advice, direction, or caution would you give him or her if you had only one chance to give your own last lecture?

Take chances in your life. Most of the time the regrets in life are of opportunities forsaken rather than ventures conquered. I do not think you get anywhere in life by playing things safe. I think I have always been afraid to take chances. Going back to school was a huge unknown but it is something I will never regret. Take a chance and do not quit. You never know how close success is unless you keep going. I was told a story last night about a young woman that was attempting to swim a channel. It was foggy and within a half mile of the other side, she asked to be pulled in the boat. It was not fatigue or distance that did her in it was the fog. She could not see her goal anymore and if she had continued just a little ways, she would have been successful. Do not let the fog of life overcome you. Be strong and brave and take that chance as far as it will let you. 

Intro to Entrepreneurship Week 13

Only one more week to go. This semester has been so hard. It has had many ups and downs. Lots of interruptions. Lots of learning. Lots of new experiences. 

This week has been a tough one and I've had to skip some of my reading. The case study for Randy Haykin was very interesting. The things that he talked about were quite familiar. As I read I kept finding familiar concepts I've learned in my business classes since beginning classes in January of 2014. I'm halfway through my bachelor's and my minor. It has felt like forever but what is giving me hope is that I'm seeing how all these concepts are embedded within me and can be utilized to help me be a better person. 

One of the things I have not learned in this class or even in life is to have self-confidence. Where oh where is that out of reach concept?? It has not seemed to have been addressed in this course and if it has, my self-esteem discounted it and my brain does not remember it. If it is not in here the course contents, then maybe something could be added. I did not put this in the course evaluation because I did not think about it then. It is something I know I could use. Is there a course at BYUI for self-confidence that I can take online? It might delay my graduation but it would probably advance the rest of my life.