If you are hoping and planning to have children, it’s important to know that the current research indicates that you give your kids the best environment for growing up if you are married. In many studies done on the quality of life for children growing up with married parents as opposed to cohabiting parents, the clear indication is that kids do better emotionally and educationally when their mom and dad are married. The chances of their parents separating goes down, and their feelings of security go up. W. Bradford Wilcox outlines some of these advantages in his article, Why the Ring Matters. If kids are in your common future, you should give this research some serious thought.