Former NFL quarterback, MVP award winner, and Super Bowl player Cam Newton has become known for taking on defenders who want to smash his head in. But in a recent interview on his podcast, “Funky Friday,” Newton revealed that the thought of marriage scares him more than the possibility of getting sacked by a 300-pound NFL lineman.
“I think it's important to be aware of what's going on in your life,” Newton told Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, a life coach and self-described “psychology expert.” He now has eight children. Bryant has been married to three women and wants to marry more. He admitted that his desire to get married is less than his fear of getting divorced. Bryant criticized him, saying he created a broken family and was selfishly depriving his children of their existence.
It doesn't take an expert to understand that marriage is the joining of two people together, and it's easier to nurture two saplings than two mature oaks.
The saddest thing about this exchange wasn't what Newton said, but the fact that his viewpoint is so common in American culture.
Percentage of Americans over 40 who are unmarried rose It has risen from 6% in 1960 to 25% in 2021. The median age at first marriage is Increased In 1960, the average age for men was 23 and for women was 20, but in 2023 this will increase to 30 and 28, respectively. rejection This will increase from 74% in 1960 to 47% in 2023. Currently, about 40% of American children Born to unmarried parentsThis reflects a tendency for adult desires to take precedence over children's needs.
Progressives often argue that economics, not parent-child relationships, are the key to raising children. However, decades of research contradicts this notion, showing that children in nuclear families outperform those raised in other family structures in many ways. Children who have two parents: Increased chances of going to college They are also less likely to be poor or imprisoned. Absence of a father It correlates with increases in poverty, teen pregnancy, juvenile crime and drug abuse.
This should come as no surprise to anyone. A man who stands before God and his family and dedicates his life to one woman demonstrates a much higher level of commitment than a man whose only connection to a woman is his two children. This is why marriage provides the most structurally possible father involvement.
Marriage also implies obligations and responsibilities that husband and wife have towards each other. To each otherThere's a reason that a co-parenting covenant doesn't include a promise to protect your marriage “in sickness and in health.”
Simply put, “making marriage a priority” benefits the entire family, which is one of the reasons why all Americans should make marriage a priority. “A string of successes” 97% of millennials born between 1980 and 1984 who left school, entered the workforce and married before having children were not poor by their mid-30s. This message is concrete, achievable and measurable.
Newton made another important point in his conversation with Bryant that has received far less attention than his statement about wanting more children. Questioned The reason why Bryant, a 41-year-old relationship coach, has not married or had children. 4 timesreplied, “Divorcees and would-be baby moms should take their time choosing their life partners instead of rushing into a wedding.”
The desire to marry one person and spend your life together is admirable, but society cannot thrive if adults wait until their mid-40s to be ready to marry. Social scientists see the “cornerstone” model of marriage as the foundation of a life that a man and woman build together, usually in their 20s. In contrast, the “capstone” model delays marriage until one has achieved career success and financial stability. Bryant's approach — waiting to marry until everything is perfect — fits into what I call the “tombstone” model, where people get married with more time ahead of them in life than behind them.
This approach is not ideal for those who want children, nor may it suit those looking for a long-lasting relationship. Marriage is about two people becoming one, and you don't need to be an expert to realize that it's easier to nurture two young saplings than it is to raise two mature oak trees.
Cam Newton is a billionaire. He's one of the best athletes of his generation. He can give his kids the world, but his In front of What is most important to them is present they ask.
The same is true for all parents. Most Americans will never be as wealthy as professional athletes. But we don't give up on giving our children the ultimate MVP: a loving home with a married father and mother who are committed to each other and to their children. That's the most valuable thing of all.It can be bought with money.
