It is fairly well-known that half of marriages end in divorce. Of course this doesn’t mean that every marriage will end in divorce, but you probably know someone whose has. Maybe it was someone in your family. It could have been your parents. If it was, what does that mean for you? Is it even a factor?
According to The National Opinion Research Council at the University of Chicago, the children of divorced parents are 50% more likely to get divorced than children from intact homes. The number may seem high; but it’s far lower than in 1973, when they were 172% more likely to divorce. Good news? Depends on how you look at it. The survey also found that people were 26% less likely to get married at all.
The simple truth is your parents’ divorce does not mean that you will follow suit. But it does have an effect. The first example you have of love and marriage is from your parents. But the key is to learn from their failures and not expect them to repeat themselves in your life. Recognize how your view of relationships has been affected and develop strategies to make better choices. And if you divorce, don’t get too discouraged. Get a good divorce attorney. Learn from what worked (and didn’t work) in the relationship. And when you’re ready, try again.