I like many others have been married and divorced.  It’s truly a painful process but with just about fifty percent of marriages doomed to failure it’s an experience millions of people must deal with.  Unfortunately the collateral damage from a divorce extends to the children.  It’s difficult to find many children who aren’t touched by divorce in some fashion or another these days. 

As sympathetic as I am to their plight, I actually think that keeping a marriage together for the children is a mistake.  Having them be a witness to the down and dirty fighting between their parents and then further manipulation by both parents for custody rights is the worst.  Those kind of scars last a lifetime.

Kids are much more resilient than adults think and can adapt to changing circumstances fairly quickly.  The following children were asked to speak on the subject of marriage.  As always kids speak their mind in a clear and concise manner regardless of the subject.

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How do you decide who to marry?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. – Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.    – Kirsten, age 10

What is the best age to marry?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. – Camille, age 10

No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.               – Freddie, age 6

How can you tell if two people are married?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. – Derrick, age 8

What do your Mom and Dad have in common?

Both don’t want any more kids. – Lori, age 8

What do people do on dates?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.                    – Linette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. – Martin, age 10

What would you do on a bad first date?

I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. – Craig, age 9

When is it OK to kiss someone?

When they’re rich. – Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
– Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do. – Howard, age 8

Is it better to be single?

I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out. – Theodore, age 8

It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. – Anita, age 9

How would the world be different if there was no marriages?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there? – Kelvin, age 8

How would you make your marriage work?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a truck. – Rick, age 10

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It’s always refreshing for me to read essays, stories, and remarks made by the kids.  They’re able to cut through the BS and answer questions based on their bits and pieces of  limited knowledge.  It gives me hope for the future.