The fantasy of marriage
There is a fantasy that I had growing up. I would find my prince charming, have the 2.5 kids, and the house in the burbs. I would have the most amazing marriage and our life would be perfect. The world at large, television, movies, all have these amazing families and marriages. As, I began almost 18 years ago, I had a magical thought of what marriage would be and to be honest, I wouldn't give anyone a plumb nickel for the first five years. My oldest daughter came to me and needed to do a presentation for her class about the American Family. She was looking for articles and experiential knowledge about what the typical american marriage. I stood before her speechless, what was I to say? The american family is no longer just husband and a wife, it goes beyond just a partnership. I believe love is the bond that will break any and all barriers. If one has love, than they have strength and with strength comes power. I took her to see the movie The Kids are Alright, Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. I turned to my daughter and said, that is what a marriage is really about. It wasn't the physical marriage I was referring too, defining marriage is each individuals responsibility to find and create their own belief systems. I sat in the theater and witnessed the strain, the emotional arguments, it was real. I was impressed there was movie that actually showed a real depiction of how marriage works. Marriage is about love, its about coming together and committing to one another in the presence of God, family, and friends. Marriage is work. Marriage is about compromise, and learning that what you might have loved once, has become a annoyance.
We stopped by Starbuck's on our way home and as we sat quietly sipping our coffee, she looks up and says, "I am so glad, you and dad kept going." I said, me too. I asked her what she was going to present to her Oral Communications class and she replied, "the fantasy of marriage". She said, momma, no one fights for marriage anymore. She says, it seemed to her that when the going gets tough the marriage is dissolved. She is correct, but that statement is far deeper than a marriage. Our society has begun to raise up a generation of entitlements. Our young children and adults want the big houses, the nice cars, but don't want to work for them. I watch as people half my age live in a world that far exceeds the Jones's. My daughter and I left the Starbucks and headed home. Our family has overcome many obstacles. We have lost everything, but we still had each other.
We stopped by Starbuck's on our way home and as we sat quietly sipping our coffee, she looks up and says, "I am so glad, you and dad kept going." I said, me too. I asked her what she was going to present to her Oral Communications class and she replied, "the fantasy of marriage". She said, momma, no one fights for marriage anymore. She says, it seemed to her that when the going gets tough the marriage is dissolved. She is correct, but that statement is far deeper than a marriage. Our society has begun to raise up a generation of entitlements. Our young children and adults want the big houses, the nice cars, but don't want to work for them. I watch as people half my age live in a world that far exceeds the Jones's. My daughter and I left the Starbucks and headed home. Our family has overcome many obstacles. We have lost everything, but we still had each other.
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