Divorce and Blended Families

Learning about divorce and step families this week has made me somewhat sad yet at the same time I am so grateful for it because now I have a better understanding for those who struggle with either or both. I also find it interesting that I have recently found out about a friend of mine who is dealing with one of these situations and the fact that the topic/subject of the week was exactly what I had been more curious about because I wanted to understand his situation more in depth rather than not really having a clue. I still do not fully understand what he is going through because I have definitely not been through what he has been through, but now I have even more sympathy and empathy for him and now I understand him better and myself a little better. I love how situations like these just "seem" to work out. :)

Now here is a chart that Brother Williams made in class and I found it very helpful and something that is worth knowing about why divorce may happen and what will be the processes of:

Divorce-Processes & Predictors

Processes

• Emotional
•  Legal
• Economic
• Co-parental
• Community (dividing up family/picking sides)
• Psychic

Predictors

• One Option
• Haven't seen healthy marriage
• Follow destructive pattern
• Re-create patterns
• Co-habitation
• Low education
• Younger at marriage
• Pregnant

Also, something good to know is that..... marriage isn't easy! Don't go in assuming every thing will be perfect because you love each other. No, it WILL be hard. But don't let that discourage you from marrying. If you work hard you two will become even closer everyday and you'll never regret getting married because you will never want to let such a special and close relationship go. If problems arise communicate. Be willing to lean on your spouse. do not pull away from each other because that is when you stop trusting each other and have misunderstandings  which is the biggest thing that causes anger and contention. TALK TO EACH OTHER.

In conclusion: I am EXTREMELY grateful for taking this class! Ah, I've learned so much about family, and psychiatry and just how the human brain works and what we need and how we need it. Brother Williams has got to be the best teacher. If you have read this and it has interested you at all then take it from Brother Michael Williams because he truly knows what he is talking about because he's experienced so much in his life and he truly loves each person he works with in any way. I surely am going to miss this class.