Marriage links for the week
Doug at CoffeeSwirls celebrated his seventh wedding anniversary on Sunday. Congratulations, Doug!
The Iowa legislature is looking to reduce the state's divorce rate by as much as five percent with new legislation requiring premarital counseling for couples who apply for a quick wedding license. Under the recently passed bill, couples who get counseling would receive their marriage license after a three-day waiting period. Without it, couples must wait 20 days.
One researcher says that the underlying secret to a happy marriage is the ratio 5:1. Successful spouses share at least five positive interactions—such as bestowing a smile, compliment or humorous quip—to counter every scornful comment, condescending sneer or dramatic eye-rolling. I've heard others say 10:1. I strive for 20:1 just to be safe.
Part of President Bush's so-called War on Poverty is a provision of $1.5 billion over five years for marriage education among the poor. One supporter responds to critics of the measure.
Mildred and Sandoe Hanna have been married 70 years. Says 90-year-old Mildred: "It just goes by so fast, you don’t even notice."
Jennifer Lopez quote of the week: "The secret to a happy marriage is… Oh, who am I kidding?"
