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This week I've been telling you that marriage matters.

Today's message (yes, it's still Thursday here in TX), is all about the kids and how marriage impacts them.

Children raised in intact married families are ...

• more likely to attend college (1)
• physically and emotionally healthier (1)
• less likely to be physically or sexually abused (1)
• less likely to use drugs or alcohol (1)
• less likely to commit delinquent behaviors (1)
• have a decreased risk of divorcing when they get married (1)
• less likely to become pregnant/impregnate someone as a teenager (1)
• less likely to be raised in poverty (1)

Isn't it amazing that marriage affects children in this way?

In the subject line I said to do [marriage] for the kids ... kinda.

Here's why I threw in the kinda.

Children are dollar store glue in a marriage. Sure, they'll hold you and your spouse together for a while. But, forever? Probably not.

When they grow older, are more mature, and appear they won't be affected by a divorce (don't believe this myth!); it will be easier for you and your mate to call it quits (this normally happens around 20 to 22 years of marriage when the kids have either left for college or are headed that way).

In closing, yes, excel in your marriage for the sake of your children. Just remember that they'll only keep you together for so long. After that, it's all about the ________ (I'll talk about that in the next email).

Kevin