Posted on 10/30/2013 8:50:52 AM PDT by Eurotwit
The Norwegian government is telling couples to go on date nights in a bid to reduce the country's 40 per cent divorce rate. As the number of married couples splitting up increases, authorities have taken inspiration from the 2010 film Date Night and are urging people to make time for each other one night a week. People aged between 40 and 44 are the most likely to break up, the Telegraph reports. Solveig Horne, the new minister for children, equality and social inclusion and herself a divorcee, is behind the push.
'My sister lives in the US and she told me that she and her husband have a weekly date night and it really works. Date night isn't really something that is done in Norway but I think it could be a good way to keep marriages together.' The Norwegian government has increased funding for state-run couples counselling service. Norway's media has so far been hostile to the proposal, saying it is proof that the ruling Populist party is drifting to the centre-right and linking it to moves by conservative groups in the US to promote date nights.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Earlier this week, Msgr. Pope at the Archdiocese of Washington discussed the difficulty in extracting real knowledge from divorce statistics. It appears that we simply don’t know how many, out of all marriages, end in divorce. We also don’t know how many individuals are repeatedly married and divorced.
My marriage was helped by the vacations we took this summer: she did her biennial thing with her sisters to Disneyworld, while I did a road trip to Las Vegas with my 11 YO son.
I had done the Florida thing on multiple occasions, and two weeks in Orlando in late June was never my idea of "fun". And that's not including the drama of five sisters arguing over plans for this day or that day.
Instead, I planned out activities that my son and I could both enjoy: horseback riding in Monument Valley and Bryce Canyon, canyoneering/rappeling outside of Zion NP, fishing, an excursion to Area 51, and a visit to the Alien Museum in Roswell.
The capper was my son saying, "Dad, don't take this the wrong way, but I liked the freedom (from Mom) I had on this trip. No doubt he loves and adores his mother, but guys just need a break from women every now and then.
So many lasting memories, such as driving east on IH-40 to Winslow AZ, with the volume cranked up on "Million Dollar Quartet", and both of us jammin' to the music. Yeah, we stopped at the "Standin on a Corner" park in Winslow.
I try not to be provoked. I have way too much of that in Real Life. Four teenagers, among other trauma ...
That’s quite an article. His observation regarding the declining marriage rate is very important to the current statistics, imho.
Lovely story.
I think that is the key to a healthy marriage. That you have freedom within it.
That goes for any healthy relationship.
Give your son high fives from Europe, and hug your wife :)
I sort of lean libertarian, but if government should have any role outside law enforcement and defence, it is defending marriage etc.
Keep in mind that 1.88 includes the birthrate of Moslems, as do similar numbers from other European countries. This means the birthrate of ethnic Norwegians (Spanish, Italians, Czechs) is even lower than it seems.
I wonder how many arguments there will be between spouses over where to go on date night?
I agree. Nonmarital couples stay together even less than married couples. “Personal freedom,” one might say, but ignoring the outcomes for children - while adults enjoy “freedom” - isn’t working out very well.
******************************
Yes. It's bad enough what it does to those who choose to remain unmarried, but what it does to children is tragic.
I would say that if there wasn’t a Muzzy influence the rate would be around 1.5.
The variance would differ by country, depending on the both the percentage of Moslems in the population and the age distribution. Older natives and younger Moslem immigrants means an even larger percentage of new babies born to Moslem parents.
I was in Asker during the election. It was great to see the Conservatives and the Progress party get so many votes. I hope they will ignore the press and carry on.
Good ideas....though one Date Night in Norway costs as much as 10 Date Nights in the US.
That’s why we might need government subsidies.
A bottle of decent champaign after dinner. 100 dollars. Dinner itself? 200 dollars.
ya.
You have read Mark Steyn? How noone gets back after a certain birth rate?
It does seem like the Russians are doing just that.
And, partly thanks to government contributions.
If the socialism in Norway and Sweden has done any good thing. It has encouraged children, and child bearing.
Need new serfs or whatnot.
You say that, but you have a 1.88 birthrate (sub-replacement) as of the latest stats. I don't know if Russia has yet achieved a replacement level, either, and their overall life expectancy may not have bottomed out, either.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.