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in this JANUARY issue.... |
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As Guilford County’s only agency specifically focused on family life and parent education, the Family Life Council provides accessible, high quality, and diverse programs, resources and advocacy for today’s families, educators and community agencies. |
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Before you get married…
The pressure for a “perfect” wedding is tremendous. Almost from the moment a couple decides to wed, there are discussions about the flowers, receptions, gowns, and gift registries. Unfortunately, during wedding planning, couples often neglect to plan for the marriage itself. They miss the opportunity to prepare for a wonderful marriage that will last.
Before you say "I do", have real, honest discussions with your fiancé about:
- What they believe about marriage and what they want from life. You need to understand your partner’s beliefs and desires – especially if they are different from your own.
- Discuss how you solve conflicts. All married couples will have times where they believe or want different things. The key to success is not always agreeing, but in knowing how to disagree. Take this opportunity to learn about healthy conflict resolution.
- Talk about money. Finances are one of the number one argument starters. Discuss your emotional reaction to things like “budgets” and “spending.” Decide together how you will approach disagreements about financial decisions.
- Talk to couples who have made their marriages work. What can they teach you?
- Participate in a marriage preparation program. You can participate with a group of couples or seek individual counseling with clergy or community groups. Programs generally focus on healthy communication skills, ways to resolve conflicts, and how to keep your love alive.
Click here for more information for engaged couples. |
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How to... Show you care without breaking the bank!
Valentine’s day is only a month away, but don’t wait for just that day to show your spouse that you care. Here are 6 easy ideas that cost you only a little time and creativity.
- Leave little complement notes in their path. Nothing brightens a day more than knowing that someone is thinking of you. Make sure you leave the notes in spaces that you know that your spouse is sure to see like on the mirror in their car, in their lunch bag, in their underwear drawer or on their computer.
- Date your Spouse. Send the kids to the neighbors or Grannies so that the two of you can spend time together. Even if you can’t get away, have a date night at home. Turn off the TV, let the answering machine get the phone, and spend time focused on each other.
- Send an e-card . Some websites offer free greeting cards that can be sent via email. Or you can create your own message in an email. It’s an unexpected way to put a smile on your honey’s face when they get to work.
- Make a coupon book . Use strips of paper to create coupons for your sweetheart. Be creative, find things that they enjoy, and make sure that when your spouse uses their coupon there are no strings attached.
- Listen. Make an effort to hear and understand what your spouse says to you. You don’t have to agree or even care about the topic to care about your partner.
- Prepare an indoor picnic . Come home at lunch time to prepare a nice picnic that is ready when your spouse gets home for dinner. Lay out a blanket and candles. Prepare finger sandwiches and other goodies that you can hand feed to your spouse.
For more information, comments, or ideas, contact Lamonica Mitchell |
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Mark your Calendars for Marriage Month: FEBRUARY, 2005
Don’t miss a chance to be involved in supporting healthy marriages in our community!
 Marriage Month – a time to celebrate, renew, and cherish healthy marriages in our community.
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- Sponsor a marriage education event for your organization. Marriage educators from the Family Life Council’s Marriage Resource Center can come speak to your group free of charge. Call now.
- Recognize married couples you know who have found a way to build a healthy and lasting marriage.
- Faith groups can offer sermons about healthy marriages.
- Take time to celebrate your own marriage.
Once you have decided how you can be involved in Marriage Month 2005, click here to let us know and we can help publicize your event.
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Did you know? Here are some Ideas, information, and some intriguing thoughts.
New Study! Generation and Gender in the Workplace
The October, 2004 study examines differences among generations in the workforce over the past 25 years.– The American Business Collaboration (ABC) – a consortium of eight major corporations that includes Abbott Laboratories, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, Exxon Mobil Corporation, General Electric, IBM Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Texas Instruments – released the results of its Generation and Gender in the Workplace study, which examines the changes within the American workforce since 1977 in relation to job satisfaction, work-life support, gender roles and attitudes.
The study, which was commissioned by the ABC and conducted by the Families and Work Institute (FWI) with nationally representative samples of the U.S. workforce:
- found that younger workers (Gen-Y and Gen-X) are more likely to be more family-focused or with equal priorities on both career and family, and less on their jobs compared to members of the Boomer generation.
- The study revealed that children of Gen-X parents receive more attention than children did in 1977, with Gen-X fathers spending over an hour more per day with their children than Boomer fathers.
- The study also finds that both women and men have become more conscious of the personal tradeoffs they have to make to advance in their careers and that an increasing number are instead choosing to stay at the same levels, rather than continue moving up the career ladder.
- Employees who are family-focused exhibit significantly better mental health, greater satisfaction with their lives, and higher levels of job satisfaction than employees who place high priorities on work.
Click here to see the full report or visit the Families and Work Institute website at http://www.familiesandwork.org/.
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The Guilford County Marriage Resource Center
The Family Life Council created the Guilford County Marriage Resource Center in January 2004. Beginning in September, these resources became available in both Alamance and Davidson Counties – leading to a Piedmont Marriage Resource Center . This center will serve as a clearinghouse of information for professionals, lay leaders, and the general public. The Marriage Resource Center offers:
- Trainings for volunteers and professionals working to support healthy marriages. Click here to see a listing of upcoming training dates.
- A Resource Library for marriage support activities. Click here to see a listing of some of our most popular titles available for loan to any Guilford, Alamance, or Davidson County resident or organization.
- A website of marriage related information – www.gcmarriage.org. This website contains a calendar of community events focused on healthy marriages. Organizations from across Guilford County can submit their programming information to be included free of charge.
- The Community Marriage Covenant for Guilford , Davidson, and Alamance Counties. Over 86 faith organizations have signed this covenant to support healthy and strong marriages both before and after the wedding.
- A Speakers Bureau with staff and volunteers able to present on a variety of relationship oriented topics to groups of youth or adults. Popular topics include Effective Communication, Decision Making in Marriage, Keeping Romance Alive While Parenting, and How to Create a Vital Marriage Ministry.
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Call For Content
GCMRC e-Magazine is looking for well-written marriage-related articles, poems, quotes, book/movie reviews, news, event announcements, product reviews, successful marriage stories, clean humor, letters to the editor, information on marriage legislation, and other family-related content.
Click here to Submit content.
NOTE: By submitting content, you represent that you have the rights to this content and that you give GCMarriage.org and the Family Life Council the right to reprint this content on the Internet, via e-mail, and in print form.
To Submit an Event
GCMRC will help you to advertise your marriage / family related event. Visit GCMarriage.org for an online form to submit the information.
Refer It
We hope you enjoyed this issue of GCMRC e-Magazine and encourage you to forward it to others who might find this information useful.
To Subscribe Or Unsubscribe
If you want a free monthly e-mail subscription to GCMRC e-Magazine, or would like to unsubscribe, email GCMarriage.org and put "Subscribe" or "Unsubsrcibe" in the Subject line.
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