Final answer:
The statement that children keep couples together at specific ages cannot be accepted as a universal truth. Most U.S. children live in two-parent households, and despite family changes, aspirations for strong marriages persist. Children with married parents are generally advantaged, though the impact on marital stability is complex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that children keep couples together when they are under 3 or over 17 cannot be definitively labeled true or false, as it does not apply uniformly to all families and their dynamics. The influence of children on marital stability is complex and can be impacted by various factors, such as the parents' relationship, financial stability, and social support systems.
Regarding family structure, according to 2010 census data, the majority of U.S. children live in two-parent households, though this has decreased from 77 percent in 1980 to 66 percent. Concerning family views post-divorce, children, including those from blended families, still view a strong marriage and family life as extremely important, with high school seniors expressing optimism about achieving lifelong marriages.
It's also important to note that children who live with married parents are reported to grow up with more advantages than children who live with unmarried parents or single parents. This could suggest an impact of marital stability on children's upbringing, though the nature of this impact is complex and not solely dependent on the children's ages.