Editor: Michele Olson, Communications Director

Holiday Edition

 

How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk(ette) to Hold an All Day Workshop!

 

Here at thinkmarriage we like to listen to the feedback you give. One thing we have heard is that you would like the opportunity to attend a workshop in one full day instead of weeknights. Now’s your chance! How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk(ette) one day workshop will be held Sat. Dec. 8^Th, from 9 am -4 pm in Green Bay, at the facility formerly known as Club 56, now a Vineyard Church on the corner of Shawano Ave and Broadway. The $25.00 fee includes lunch and your opportunity to learn how you can break destructive dating patterns and provide you with the skills for a healthy marriage. Every single person (and you don’t need to be dating someone right now) who wants a great marriage someday is encouraged to attend! To register email info@thinkmarriage.org with your name, and full contact information, or call 920-430-7300.

 

Brown County Now Has a Community Program Director!

We welcome Sarah Nass as our director for Brown County. A Green Bay native, Sarah has lived across the U.S. She was educated as a classical scholar (Click here to see what that means!) and has a real gift for working with all kinds. of people. Some of you may already know her as your friendly facilitator for the No Jerks class. Other skills include making lattes, singing jazz, community theater, and finding exotic chocolates to taste. Sarah brings a youthful vitality and much enthusiasm to our program. 

 

The Marriage of Mr. and Mrs. #4

Wonder what Deanna Favre has to say about her marriage to Brett? Find out in the current blog at www.wimarriagechat.org and when you visit, leave a comment!

 

Holiday Tips for Couples Communication?

Read the recent article in the Appleton Post Crescent quoting Andra Siedsma and Michele Olson from the thinkmarriage staff.

 

‘Tis the Season!

Did you receive a letter from us recently? If you’re not on our mailing list, here’s an excerpt as written by Susan Dutton Freund, Executive Director:

     We’re a non-profit that relies on donations to get our jobs done and to put food on our families’ tables. Have you ever known one that can say, “We have all we need, don’t send money please.”? Of course not! So I’m simply going to remind you that we need your help, and leave it at that.

     I also thought you might like a little insight into what we’re up to. We launched countywide operations this year in Brown and Fond du Lac, and sponsored classes in Dane, Buffalo, Polk, Milwaukee, Winnebago and Pepin counties.  We gave at least eight hours of relationship skills training to unwed teen moms, single adults, Latino couples in Spanish, and married couples of all ages – much of it free. We’ve served 333 people as of today, and the year’s not done yet!

We’ve also touched countless other Wisconsinites through our public awareness campaign and Marriage Myth Buster Guides.  So when considering your charitable giving during this season of goodwill, please consider giving a monetary gift to thinkmarriage brought to you by the Foundation for a Great Marriage. If you’d like to donate using a credit card, please give us a call (920) 430-7300. Thank you for your gift to make a difference in the well being of children and families in the state of Wisconsin.

PLUS! University of Oregon researchers recently found that giving money to charities increased brain activity in the same areas as enjoying food and sex.  Want a warm glow? Donate to thinkmarriage!

Divorced Mom, Depressed Teen  Here’s something to ponder as noted in a recent 2006 study by Susan Brown. Adolescents often pay a high price for their parents' marital failures.  They typically pay an even higher price for their parents' non-marital experiments with cohabitation.  A study recently published in Demography by sociologist Susan L. Brown of Bowling Green State University revealed  that moving from a single-mother family into a married-couple step family is "not significantly associated with [changes in] adolescent well-being."   However, these statistics clearly establish that "moving from a single-mother family into a cohabiting step family is associated with increased delinquent behavior and decreased school engagement."  The distress and confusion teens experience when living in a non-traditional household or when living through a shifting household make it all the more tragic that "the share of children residing with two biological parents has been steadily declining [in recent years], and the proportion of children residing in step families or families formed outside of marriage, including single-parent and cohabiting families, are at all-time highs."

(Source: Susan L. Brown, "Family Structure Transitions and Adolescent Well-Being,"  Demography 43 [2006]: 447-461, emphasis added.)

 

Have a Joyous and Blessed Holiday Season!

We at thinkmarriage wish you a very Merry Christmas…and please remember to be good to yourself and your relationships during this very busy time of year. God Bless Us Everyone!