Engagement season, between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, is the time of year when most engagements take place, with Christmas and New Year’s Eve being the most popular days to pop the question.
Now, couples are starting to plan their June weddings, focusing on the details that will make it a perfect day. But Kyleigh Brown thinks they also ought to be investing some time before their big day into planning for their marriage, which will last longer than the wedding.
Brown is a human development and family science specialist for the University of Missouri Extension. She is offering a Strong Couples program, designed to teach couples how to improve conflict resolution and improve satisfaction in the relationship with their partner. The program is open to couples who are engaged, as well as married couples and couples who have been living together for six months or more.
“This class is an excellent opportunity for couples to do as a premarital course,” Brown said. “Studies have found that premarital programs decrease a couple’s likelihood of divorce.”
The program was developed by Illinois Extension, which funds the program. There is no charge for the course, and participants who complete a program survey will have a chance to win a $25 gift card, Brown said.
In addition to improving communication skills and building conflict resolution skills, the program is designed to increase the fun a couple has together, Brown said. It also offers guides to engaged couples on how to be intentional in the decisions made for their marriage.
The program consists of six online modules, plus virtual meetings with a trained coach to give participants a chance to practice their skills. Participants can be mixed or same sex couples, must be 18 years or older and residents of Missouri.
“The Strong Couples Program is a no-cost opportunity to ensure your “happily ever after,” Brown said.
University of Missouri Extension is a way for the university to reach beyond the campus to improve the health and well-being of residents, and to promote agricultural growth and economic opportunity in Missouri communities.
Invest in your marriage, whether present or future, by registering for the Strong Couples program at http://extension.missouri.edu/events/the-strong-couples-program.
