Recent family related news included: a look at the connection between the emotional and physical pain of divorce; some coping skills for young divorcing couples: and a new policy from the Social Security Administration which finally makes survivor benefits available for many same sex couples. With a near record number of couples planning to tie the knot this year, tips are offered on how to best cope with the many challenges caused by Covid and a look at divorce as a positive development are also explored in the news.
Why divorcing young feels so hard, and what to do about it Angela Haupt, The Washington Post, January 18, 2022 Divorce is incredibly common, including among younger adults — according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 7.1 percent of women who have ever been married divorce between the ages of 20 to 24; that jumps to 13.4 percent of those ages 25 to 29 and 22.3 percent of the 30-to-34 cohort. But the dissolution of a marriage at a young age can bring stigma. This article offers advice on how to cope with the stigma that often accompanies divorcing when young.
Social Security Opens to Survivors of Same-Sex Couples Who Could Not Marry Paula Span, The New York Times, January 23, 2022 The Social Security Administration now allows gay men and lesbians to receive survivor’s benefits if they can show that they were in a committed relationship and would have married had that been possible. The change could mean greater economic protection for a population with higher poverty rates than American adults overall.
This 'Sex and the City' character is teaching us an important lesson about divorce Opinion by Rebecca Bodenheimer, CNN, January 27, 2022 The author argues: “The problem is that "happily ever after" is a fantasy of forever that depends on unrealistic notions of complete stasis within a marriage… Seeing more of my own peers get divorced in recent years has reinforced for me that although not free from pain, divorce can be a positive development, particularly for women who don't feel fulfilled in their partnerships…”
Heartbroken? There's a scientific reason why breaking up feels so rotten Terry Gross Interview with Florence Williams, NPR. February 1, 2022, Writer Florence Williams wanted to understand her physical reaction to “breakup,” so she began speaking to scientists in the U.S. and England about the connection between emotional and physical pain. Her new book, “Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey,” investigates the ways in which extreme emotional pain can impact the heart, the digestive and immune systems, and more.
It’s a Boom Year for Brides and Grooms Tammy La Gorce, The New York Times, February 4, 2022 If the predictions pan out, there will be some 2.5 million weddings in 2022 — the most since 1984 — and yet it’s never been more difficult to plan one. Here’s what couples should expect.