Divorce and Stepfamilies

This week we talked about divorce and the different stations and steps of divorce. I really liked the conversation on Monday because its stuff I've thought about before. We talked about whether or not there is a "right" time to get a divorce. I want the answer to be no but I don't believe that is true. I've worked with kids that came from homes with domestic violence and I took a class on campus about abuse and domestic violence. I've also, on my own, studied the effects that abuse can have on children because for a career I want to help children that come from those situations. I know there is still a lot I don't know about abuse and what those that are in those situations experience, but I don't think anyone should stay in those situations and that they should get out as soon as they can. Another thing I have thought about is whether or not I would stay in a marriage with a husband who is not living the law of chastity. I still haven't decided, I think it would depend on the situation, but I honestly hope and pray I never have to be in a situation where I would have to make that decision.

I thought our conversation about things that correlate with low divorce rates in the church was very interesting. It was said that marriages in which both spouses are returned missionaries have the lowest rates of divorce. I'm a returned missionary and I learned so much from that experience. One thing I learned was how important the family is in God's plan and that gives me the hope that I would do whatever it takes to make my marriage work. I also learned how to live with people and work through problems and I learned what my weaknesses are and I've been working on improving in those areas. All these are things that I hope will help me when I'm married.

I got a lot from the reading this week. I wish we had talked more about chapter 16 because I found that extremely fascinating because my family, my parents, are about to start going into that stage. I'm the oldest and I was the first to leave home. My 3 brothers left when they went on their missions and I still have one sister in grade school. My family has changed a lot in the past few years. It also hit home because it had me thinking about my grandpa Kunzler. He was my last grandparent to pass away and he died last year. He was so sad after my grandma died and his health started to decline more quickly, fortunately my aunt had moved back and took care of him. I told my bishop about my grandpa right after he passed away and my bishop said that it is so hard for men when their spouses die. Their wives are so important to them and they are so lonely without their wives.

I thought that I would share something that was on a lighter note. It's the first part of this episode I wanted to share, but I couldn't find a clip with just the part I wanted so I put on the whole part one.

I couldn't find just the clips I wanted again, but I'm putting this clip on because it mentions divorce and the daughter is effected by the divorce of her parents.