By Grace Sailor
It is difficult to watch the news without hearing about another celebrity marriage failing, as is with the recent news of the unraveling of the famous Shriver-Schwarzenegger union. It is no wonder that the rising generation is more likely to live together than to get married, especially with the anti-marriage sentiment of celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey.
I remember catching a segment on Oprah many years back when the most famous married couple at the time, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, were questioned about their commitment to their marriage. I was surprised when they matter of fact discussed with Oprah that they did not believe in everlasting love and that they would stay in their marriage basically until they felt it had run its course. Obviously it didn’t run for much longer as their marriage dissolved soon after.
When watching the news it is easy to wonder if marriages do really last. With the bombardment of complex messages in regards to marriage and relationships, it is essential that parents take the opportunity to have an open discussion with children and young adults about what is being reported. The conversation can provide a valuable opportunity to discuss such topics as the purpose of marriage, importance of working on marital relationships, or how our decisions impact family members. In particular remind them of the successful marriages they encounter in their personal lives.
Parents need to take the opportunity to resolve concerns that children may develop about marriage due to the media. Children need to be learning the importance of marriage in their own homes and the media actually can provide an avenue to start a valuable discussion. For a few more suggestions on how to turn the tragedy of the disintegration of a family into an important teaching moment, go here.