Pageidaujamo sutuoktinio ir partnerio vaikų ugdyme apibūdinimai leidžia teigti, kad jaunesni žmonės (vyrai ir moterys), norintys sukurti šeimą, nenoriai renkasi partnerį, auginantį vaiką. Todėl galima daryti prielaidą, kad biologiniai vaikų tėvai yra svarbi sėkmingo vaikų ugdymo sąlyga. Supratimas apie tradicinę šeimą, kurią sudaro sutuoktiniai ir jų vaikai, ugdomi bendradarbiaujant, ne visada gali būti įgyvendintas. Ypač sunku tai suvokti vyresniame amžiuje, nes santuokų statistika rodo, kad penktadalis šeimų yra antrosios santuokos šeimos. Vyraujantis šeimos modelis po skyrybų yra mama ir vaikas. Šio tipo šeimos skirstomos į dvi grupes: šeimą, kurioje tėvas aktyviai dalyvauja vaiko ar vaikų ugdyme, ir šeimą, kurioje jis yra pašalintas arba atsisako šios pareigos. Antruoju atveju moteris, ieškanti naujo santuokos partnerio, daugiau dėmesio skiria jo tėviškoms savybėms ir įgūdžiams. Duomenys rodo, kad vyrai geriau save įsivaizduoja tokio tipo šeimoje nei toje, kurioje tėvas ir vaikas vis dar palaiko santykius.

The dominant model of the family after divorce is mother and child.This type of family splits into two groups: the family in which the father is actively involved in child’s or children’s education and the family where he is excluded or opts out of this obligation. In the second case, a woman searching for a new marriage partner pays more attention to his paternal qualities and skills.The data shows that men envision themselves better in this type of family than in the one where father and child still maintain their relationship.

Since the end of the 21st century relationships in the family have been rapidly changing in Lithuania. The changes correspond to changes in the birth-rate. The former model of birthrate which was characterized by the prevalence of legitimate children, child-bearing at a younger age and which ensured a change of generations, was replaced by a new model characterized by having illegitimate children, the postponment of child-bearing and low birth-rate, which does not ensure a change of generations. Although love relationships, marriage, children are still considered to be the recognized values, these changes have affected the conception of child’ s education in the family, the perception of child as a value. It is therefore relevant to evaluate future spouses’ preparation for a modern marriage and to constantly improve it. Such preparation is usually understood as young people’s readiness for their first marriage. Readiness for the second marriage and child’ s education in the second family are no less important though still insufficiently explored empirically and theoretically generalized.

The article explores attitudes to child’s education in the second marriage. The research was conducted inquiring people who wanted to create a family or establish long-term relationships. They were members of the online dating site “Harmonious Couple”. In 2007, 4000 participants were interviewed. In 2012 the research was carried out again. A 1000 participants were interviewed.

In both surveys, groups of participants who were to be interviewed were formed randomly. The research data showed that the predominant model of the family after divorce is mother and child(ren). This type of the family splits into two groups: the family in which the father is actively involved in child(ren’s) education and the family where he is excluded or opts ouf of this obligation. In the second case, a woman searching for a new marriage partner pays more attention to his paternal qualities and skills. However, many men who are planning the second marriage do not consider special preparations to communicate with a future spouse’s child(ren) as a prerequisite for the success of an intended marriage.

The research confirmed that parents encounter many difficulties in adolescent education. Parents of children of this age were in need of training in children’s psychology and education.