Brad & Angelina, Kids, and Marriage

Brad and Angelina have announced they will finally be getting married after being together 7 years.  One of the big reasons...their kids.

Brad told CBS Sunday Morning that "We're getting a lot of pressure from the kids.  Yeah, it means something to them and they're, you know, they have questions when their friends' parents are married ..." So Pitt tells them, "We will someday, we will: That's a great idea.  Get Mommy a ring! (they say).  OK, I will, I will."

And he told Hollywood Reporter, "We'd actually like to," he says of his seven-year partner, Jolie, "and it seems to mean more and more to our kids.  We made this declaration some time ago that we weren't going to do it till everyone can.  But I don't think we'll be able to hold out.  It means so much to my kids, and they ask a lot.  And it means something to me, too, to make that kind of commitment."

Kids naturally understand that marriage means something.  Living together is not the same as marriage.  Even in a Hollywood environment, children innately know that marriage is much more that "just a piece of paper."

Marriage is much better for children than their parents just living together.  Research shows that children with married parents do better emotionally, socially, and educationally.

Marriage increases the likelihood that fathers and mothers will have a better relationship with their children.  Research indicates that children with married parents are the least likely to be exposed to the instability that affects their relationship with their parents.

We must continue to champion God's gold standard for the home...the intact, biological, married family.  Children thrive best in this family form.