Is marriage really necessary? (Page 43)

Romance. Sure, you can get involved with someone without tying the knot. But how meaningful is that? Both parties know one or the other can give up on the relationship at a moment's notice, creating a sense of insecurity and tentativeness that many couples find uncomfortable. Statistics suggest that eighty percent of couples who live together before marriage will not make it to ten years afterward. The respect and commitment that come with a formal marriage can enhance the romantic value of the couple's relationship. It's fun to wake up with someone who has pledged their life to you, and vice versa.
 

Raising a family together is perhaps the most intimate relationship of all. It's not easy to bring children into the world, get up at night when they're sick, find the money to pay for  college, and then eventually let them go out on their own, leaving you in the sole companionship of the person you began with, your spouse. Children need both a female and male influence; lacking one or the other may disrupt normal developmental patterns and social adjustment. While many single parents successfully raise healthy, successful children, generally it is easier and better to have two parents working together to achieve this goal.