As a professor and advisor at Armstrong, students often come into my office struggling with a variety of academic and life problems. On many occasions, it is the student’s dating life that is most confusing to them when considering their future.

Is their girlfriend or boyfriend right for them, or should they look for someone else? How do you know when it is time to commit yourself to one person or get married? While I am reluctant to be directive in my opinions, I’ve always found the advice of children informative and interesting.

Here are the responses of children when asked about dating and marriage:

“You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.”
- Alan, age 10.

“No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.”
- Kristen, age 10.

What is the right age to get married?
“Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person forever by then.”
- Camille, age 10.

How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
“You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.”
- Derrick, age 8.

What do you think your mom and dad have in common?
“Both don’t want any more kids.”
- Lori, age 8.

“On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.”
- Martin, age 10.

What would you do on a first date that was going badly?
“I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.”
- Craig, age 9.

When is it OK to kiss someone?
“When they’re rich.”
- Pam, age 7.

How would the world be different if people didn’t get married?
“There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?”
- Kelvin, age 8.

And my favorite is: How would you make a marriage work?
“Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.”
- Ricky, age 10.

The Rev. Dr. Bob LeFavi, installed member of the Society of Ordained Scientists, is pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church, Springfield.