EDCO 815 Reading Report
EDCO 815 Reading Report
Name: Veronica S. Booker
Date: August 11, 2019
Week #: 6 & 7
Place a mark beside the percentage that most accurately represents the amount of reading from
your textbook(s) and additional materials you completed for this week’s module. Then generate a
paragraph of reflection from the reading and type them on this form below. Save the reading
report and submit it through the assignment link on Blackboard. Submitting the weekly reading
report is a requirement for the course.
Critical thinking involves asking questions about clarification of key issues, worldview
assumptions, reasons/evidence, perspectives, and implications. Reflections develop critical
thinking from the required reading. Reading reports will be conducted at 4 times during the
course and will account for a total of 200 points.
Completed Reading
I have completed the following percentage of required reading for this weekly module:
0%____ 20%____ 40% ____ 60% ____ 80% ____ 100% _X___
Note: Please keep in mind the academic honesty policy of Liberty University as you complete
and submit your reading report. A clear conscience is worth more than a few points!
Paragraph Reflection
Divorce
Module five’s readings focused on divorce, single-parenting,and remarriage. Divorce has
been a major topic for many years and there are several factors that contribute to divorce.
Younger couples, 20 years of age or below at the time of marriage have the highest rates of
divorce (McGoldrick, Preto & Carter, 2016). Education and income plays a major role in divorce
as well, people who tend to have lower education and income tend to divorce more than those
with higher levels (McGoldrick et, al., 2016). In order to complete effective and efficient
research on divorce there needs to be more information provided for other ethnicities the studies
have not been as diverse as I would like them to be.
EDCO 815 Reading Report
Surprisingly, statistics have shown a decline in divorce and one reason that was
mentioned in the text was cohabitation rather than marriage (Balswick, 2014). Though couples
are sharing dwelling space and creating families many of them have decided against marriage.
There are many other factors contributing to the decline; “Although there is no sure way of
predicting whether a marriage will succeed, research has found correlations with a number of
demographic factors, such as age, ethnicity, income, occupation, social class, and level of
education that may have a bearing” (Balswick, 2014, p.302). There are many reasons why people
divorce, and as time progresses it is becoming normal to see relationships breakdown because of
relational issues, problems with behavior, and couples being able to compromise work schedules
and labor division (Balswick, 2014).
My parents divorced when I was young and it greatly affected my childhood. I had
become accustomed to having my father in the home and I can recall calling out for dad in my
sleep. It was difficult to concentrate on school work and I remember teachers having conferences
with my mother because they noticed I would stare off in a distance frequently during class time
and lose focus. Reports have shown divorce to be linked to a decrease in psychological wellbeing
in children, “and that this decrease helps explain the connection between divorce and lower
academic achievement” (Balswick, 2014, p.305).
Single Parent Families
The traditional two-parent household has changed over time and single-parent homes
have increased. This increase is due to many factors like; “post divorce single parents, women
who had a child before they were little more than children themselves, and an increasing number
of both women and men who purposely choose single parenthood through adoption, donor
insemination, or by raising a child who has been conceived in an uncommitted relationship”
EDCO 815 Reading Report
(McGoldrick et, al., 2016, p. 395). After my parents divorced my mother struggled for years a
single parent. She could not immediate compensate for the missing income in our home and we
struggled for a while to make ends meet. It was a difficult time but she was resilient and taught
me resilience and how to work hard.
Single parents take on a major responsibility and it can be very stressful raising children
without the aid of another parent. The absence of one parent can be detrimental to a child’s
development (McGoldrick et, al., 2016). There is an upside however to being raised in a single-
parent home, “ many girls gain social skills and relationship abilities earlier, and boys learn to be
socially savvy, generous, and caring communicators, while continuing to maintain their
traditional masculine interests and traits” (McGoldrick et, al., 2016, p. 398).
Remarriage
There is a work in progress when couples decide to remarry. Many times people who
enter into marriage a second time come with children. Stepfamilies progressively work overtime
to transition into their new normal ((Balswick, 2014). The process is one that should not be
rushed. It takes time for families to grow to love and know each other, develop trust, and start a
shared history. Finding that new identity as a family unit does not happen overnight (Balswick,
2014).
Several of the problems families have during remarriage occur because the family or
counselor attempts to use the roles and rules that were previously established in the first family
(McGoldrick et, al., 2016). This causes serious problems. Newly formed families should create
new concepts of family.
Conclusion
Marriage was established by God as a lifelong union between one man and one woman
EDCO 815 Reading Report
(Köstenberger, 2010). In a perfect world marriages would be able to stand the test of time;
however, there are many reasons why divorce occurs. Köstenberger’s break down of Biblical
implications for divorce and remarriage provided a great guide for greater understanding of
God’s view. Adultery and desertion are listed as Biblical grounds for divorce and remarriage
(Köstenberger, 2010). There are some believers that view Scripture as saying there is never
grounds for divorce ,and remarriage is only valid when there is death of a spouse. There are some
aspects that I agreed with and some I questioned; however, I believe marriage is a covenant that
should be held in regard and it takes work and compromise. Though I hate divorce, I understand
there are circumstances that can become unbearable in a marriage and divorce may be the only
option.
References
Balswick, J. O. (2014). The family: A Christian perspective on the contemporary home, 4th ed.
EDCO 815 Reading Report
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Carter & McGoldrick. (2016). The expanded family life cycle: Individual, family, and social
perspectives, 5th ed. Columbus, OH: Allyn and Bacon.
Kostenberger, A. J. (2010). God, marriage, and family: Rebuilding the biblical foundation, 2nd
ed. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
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