SINGLE PARENTS EXCLUDED FROM MARRIAGE AS BEST FORM OF COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP?

PARENTING BLOG - DOES CHAMPIONING MARRIAGE   VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE!

"The theory that the “hollowing out of marriage” is harming children comes from the kinds of statistics and anecdotes described earlier this year in “Two Classes, Divided by ‘I Do’”: lower scores on standardized tests, poorer grades and an increased likelihood of dropping out of high school or failing to attend college; and stories of single parents with little time left after work, who struggle to provide the same access to activities, help with homework or even to read aloud."

SISTER HERE!  FOR ME PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE A STRONG MARRIAGE COMES FIRST BEFORE HAVING CHILDREN DOES and that no one should decide how many children they want before marriage or agree to more than one until they've actually had one.  BEFORE MARRIAGE people ought to discuss their feelings and thoughts about having children though, and it's unethical to claim you want to have children when you don't just to get someone to marry you.  If one person feels strongly that they do not want children, then they shouldn't make a life partner out of someone who could not live without children.  At issue is age, health, stability of income...  Children cost money and loving them won't make up for destitution.

As for the gay marriage issue, I'm all for it, without it being my own personal issue.

UNCONVENTIONAL NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS? HERE ARE SOME RETORTS TO STUPID QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS!

1) When I hear someone saying something stupid about me on the basis that I'm NMNK I will speak up and tell them "That's Stupid!"  (I'm especially sick of hearing "You never gave birth so you don't know what it is to raise/have a child.")

2) When someone such as a stranger asks me my marital status I will say "unavailable," and offer no further explaination than "Just am."  (If you don't have the courage for this try saying unmarried rather than single.  You really do not owe strangers personal information anyway.)

3) When someone such as a stupid stranger asks (usually because they just learned I'm NMNK) "Have you ever been in love?"  I'll say "Am I a human being?"

4) When someone suggests that I'm childless because I "ran out of time,"  I'll say, "NO actually not having children was my PLAN!)

5) When someone tries to introduce me to someone else for the purposes of matchmaking I will no longer agree just because I like this middle-person.  I will ask "What makes you think this person and me are compatible?"  and "Let me think about it."

6) When I meet someone who has a woe is me attitude simply because they have not married or had children (yet) I will suggest to them that they read this blog!