Should we stay together for the sake of the children? Many parents ask this question 

People often believe that divorce is extremely damaging to children and they stay together in an otherwise unhappy marriage as a result. However, this is not necessarily the best thing for children. My clients tell me all of the time that they stayed together or believe they should stay together for the sake of their children. I tell them that children do not need married parents - they need happy and healthy parents.

There is no doubt that kids benefit from living with two parents who have a good marriage. They feel secure and safe. They learn what it takes to make a good marriage and to form good adult relationships. They do not have to deal with the complications and stress that come with a divorce. Studies reveal that children who are raised in a two person, loving, and stable environment show less signs of depression, anxiety and defiant behavior and do better in school. However, there are two parts to that equation. Just having two parents is not enough - a good marriage is the more important part.

Without any innovative, must-have decorations for Christmas 2007, cautious consumers will have little reason to buy

Retailers and marketers are hunkering down for a less than stellar Christmas gift shopping season.  Now there is one more reason to add to their gloom -- There is no trendy Christmas decoration that people absolutely must buy to add to their holiday displays.  As a result, Christmas decorations sales are expected to remain about the same as last year at $9.3 billion. This according to the last study of the seasonal decorations market from Unity Marketing.

"Innovation drives the seasonal decorations market and this year there is nothing really new to capture people's imaginations and compel them to buy," says Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and author of Shopping:  Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience.

"Last season the must-have item was the outdoor balloon inflatables which contributed to the 9.5 percent growth in sales of Christmas decorations from 2005 to 2006.  This year the stores have little to offer that will generate that kind of excitement and stimulate such strong sales."