Successful Stepcouple Strategies: The Why and What of Putting Your Marriage First by Heather Hetchler, MA
Two people fall in love and decide to marry or partner for life. They make the decision together and enter the union with love, hope and a commitment to stick with it for better or worse.
Unlike a first-time marriage, children often come with the vows made in a remarriage. Those children, regardless of age, are part of the newly created family. But they do not make the choice to form a new family. Nor are they the reason for it. The reason for the remarriage is the love and commitment shared by the two people saying, “I do.”
In the beginning stages of a newly formed stepfamily, the complexities that come with integrating two homes don’t seem to wear stepcouples down. Their commitment, intense love and focus on one another helps buffer any drama that ensues—despite marrying with kids in the mix. Over time, if the couple is not mindful about the need to prioritize their relationship, the drama and difficulties inherent in stepfamily life slowly take center stage and pull them apart.
Yet, your marriage is more likely to thrive (and survive) when you put each other first. Today’s successful stepcouples know this. It’s time you did, too! We’ll explore exactly why putting your marriage first matters, what you need to do and what you need to avoid doing to make sure your relationship is the top priority in your stepfamily. …To read the rest of this article log in to your account and download the March 2016 issue. Don’t have an account? Click here to subscribe.