When people think of communication they mostly think of verbal, but what people don't realize is that nonverbal communication makes up about 51% of communication while words only make up about 35%. The last 14% is attributed to tone. If someone were to say something nice to me, but was making faces like they were mad or their body language was showing something completely different I would definitely look into why they were acting that way regardless of what they say. The saying "actions speak louder than words" is very applicable to this topic. It is very important to have honest and open communication while also sending out the correct nonverbal communication to match what you're trying to say. A quote that we mentioned in class was "Communicate not only so clearly that you could be understood, but that you couldn't be misunderstood." I find myself often beating around the bush with things that I say mostly for fear of what the other person will respond to what I have said. I have gotten myself into a lot of trouble saying things and doing things that I don't mean out of anger. That's why I stress the honest and open communication, and having your actions agree with your words. The last thing that I want to talk about that I think is so important is no having one person be the leader in a relationship. There should be no presidents or vice presidents. The husband and wife should be equal. Power in families is the ability to get someone to think or feel in a way that they wouldn't spontaneously. Every person should be able to feel comfortable enough with the other person that they can say or act in whatever way they normally would without getting put down for it. I have so much to work on when it comes to my communication skills, but that class really has helped open my eyes to some of the important lines of communication.

This week we talked about stress in families. One of the things that we talked about that causes stress in families is when parents argue. This not only affects the parents, but it affects the children as well. When I was a kid I remember sitting on the porch listening to my parents yell at each other. I'm sure when I was that age all it did was make me sad, but I've noticed now that I'm older I've sometimes had the mentality that fighting is a good thing. It's taken me awhile to put together that those positive thoughts of fighting probably came from years of me hearing my parents fight. Of course I know that fighting isn't a positive thing, but it's interesting to have those feelings in the back of my mind sometimes that it is a good thing. I know my imperfections, and I know that I'm different than everyone else so I can only imagine the things that go on with other kids who were raised in a background similar to mine. I know that everybody will have their disagreements, but there are better ways to handle those situations. I can only hope that I can learn and grow from the negative situations that have been placed in my path.

In class this week we talked about marital intimacy. I think it is so important for parents to educate their kids on sex. My parents didn't ever have "the talk" with me, I learned from other kids. It wasn't a good thing for me to learn from other kids close to my age, because they had different standards than me. I grew up in an area where there was maybe a 2% Mormon population. Adults in my area would let their children have sleepovers, and anything else you could think of. In church, we learn that sex isn't okay to do before you're married. I completely agree. Unfortunately, too many members of the church take that standard too far, and make it seem as if sex is bad. Then when their kids grow up and get married, they have sex for the first time and feel guilty about it. I am going to teach my children that sex is a good thing, at the right place, in the right time, and with the right person. I hope that more parents educate their kids on the emotions, and importance of intimacy after they're married.

Marriage is the one thing that really scares me, but at the same time it is the one thing that I desire most in life. 

My parents got divorced this last year. I have tried to ignore it as much as possible (it's actually worked quite well for me), but there are times when it weighs heavy on my mind. I have become extremely picky in my dating. I hang out with a lot of different people, but I always seem to find things wrong in every guy that's interested in me. Many people may see this as a bad thing, but in marriage you have to be able to adapt to your spouses lifestyle. & you don't just marry them, you marry their family. It is so important to get to know people completely, and find out if you will be able to work well with them in many different situations. I know that there is a good man out that will be able to work well with me and my flaws, and I will be able to work well with him and his. I've just got to meet him, and be able to put in the required work that goes along with dating. :)