GUIDELINES FOR A HAPPY MARRIAGE: WHAT IS THE BEST AGE FOR MARRIAGE?
Generally speaking, the best age to be married is the age when one has reached physical and mental maturity. Naturally, this will vary with each person, but experts put it between the ages of 22 and 30, with the husband from four to seven years older than the wife. Here again, exceptions are found. In many a happy marriage, the wife is from one to five years older. The point is that the couple should be emotionally stable and mentally mature enough to withstand the stresses and strains of marriage.
Many people must postpone marriage for economic reasons. However, we can assume that in most instances a bachelor of over 35 has remained single from choice. This may indicate character traits that are not compatible with a good husband and father. I should like to caution against trying to force a confirmed bachelor into marriage.
I should also like to urge people to take into consideration the marital history of a prospective partner. Do not dismiss the fact that he or she has been divorced, but be certain you have a good reason for believing that history will not repeat itself. Men and women who have been married and divorced several times are not good marital risks.
Determination to make the marriage a success is one of the most important weapons against divorce. As one authority says, ‘Tolerance, understanding, and good humour are more valuable assets in marriage than a starry-eyed idealization of the other partner.’
Before discussing the emotional attitudes and sexual adjustments that contribute to a good marriage, I should like to deal with some basic questions of physical health.
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