Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Last week, we brought you comments from men who say they would rather not be married. This week, we explore why some women would die if they do not get married.

Marriage is the fairy-tale climax of every little girl's dream. Even though time and experience dull the shine and shimmer from expectations, some women say they would die if they fail to make it down the aisle before they reached the big 40.

Marriage is ordained by God but it is felt that many women want to get married for the wrong reasons.

"I guess it's a thing from my childhood days. You were told to go to school, get an education and then find a husband," Kenesha Wallace tells Saturday Life.

Status

Wallace, 25, who intends to tie the knot soon, says marriage endows women with status.

"You are looked at differently when you are married, especially when you plan to have children," she says.

Sandra Bennett says she would rather wed and the marriage collapse than never to have taken the leap.

Sharon Brownis approaching 30 and is fretting. She thinks time is running out on her to have her children but she doesn't want to go down that route until she is married.

But she is yet to find Prince Charming.

"I have to get married. It is just the right thing to do," she says. "But I don't know how that one will work out," says Brown, whose ex-lover told her he didn't want to take the plunge.

Diamond ring

When she was younger, Taneisha Thompson desperately wanted to get married. She envisioned herself walking down the aisle in her long white gown, kissing her husband and wearing that to-die-for diamond ring.

Today, the 29-year-old says she is happy that she did not get married when she was 20.

"People marry for the wrong reasons and I am glad I did not get trapped in that situation," she tells Saturday Life.

She adds: "Plus, I see too many people get married and then either divorce or are living separate lives."

How to avoid a doomed marriage

Time is the master

There would be fewer people claiming to fall out of love with their spouse if there were more people who let time do the talking. True love grows over time, not decreases.

If you notice that you loved someone more towards the beginning of the relationship than towards the end, that is a red flag that the decreasing trend may continue.

Qualify quickly

Identify compatibilities and incompatibilities quickly. Look for like-mindedness. Opposites do attract, but they don't stay married. If you see these inconsistencies in behaviour, address it quickly before it happens again. Spend quality time with quality people, that is, if you are a quality person.

Speak the truth

A person who is faithful with the least of things, will be faithful with much. People, who are dishonest early in their relationships, are more likely to be very dishonest, trust-breakers later on in the relationship.

Looks are not important

'Beauty is vain, favour is deceitful.' When people say things like "you look so good together", take it with a grain of salt. If appearances or looks are in your top 10 reasons for getting married, give it more time.

Source: ehow.com

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