Engaged? How Do You Know You're Really Ready To Get Married?

Summertime is often the season for weddings. For couples who have been in a long time relationship, marriage seems to be the obvious final step. After couples get engaged, often unforeseen conflicts arise. With a national divorce rate of 63 percent and rising, many couples becomehesitant to take that final step to make their union a permanent legal partnership. Many adults, raised in broken homes, have no idea what a successful marriage looks like. Is it normal to argue? Is it normal to get angry? Is it normal to physically fight? Should a couple be exactly alike in everything they think and do? What differences are acceptable? Is a little infidelity to be expected? Is it unrealistic to expect exclusivity with your spouse when it comes to emotional attachment, sexual attraction and companionship? What are the right reasons to get married? What are the wrong reasons to get married? Should you marry someone because you had a child out of wedlock with them? Should you marry the person your family really likes? What are the signs you are really ready to get married? What are signs that perhaps you need a bit more pre-marital counseling first?