“It is over!” This is what more and more adults in our country are saying about their marriages. But it is not the young or newly married who are walking out on matrimony. It is adults aged 55 to 64 in which the divorce rate has doubled since the 1990s, according to the National Center for Family & Marriage Research.
Why in world would couples split up after years of marriage, grown children and life experiences together? In “Splitsville: The New Divorce Epidemic,” an article in NextTribe.com, a new web magazine for women 45 and over, writer Janet Siroto shares the reasons why and how to avoid becoming a statistic yourself.
Baby Boomers’ long-term marriages start falling apart due to these three main culprits: empty nest syndrome; the need for fulfillment in their golden years; the decrease of the importance of the institution of marriage in today’s society.
“An empty nest definitely causes a divorce spike, more often initiated by the woman. Reasons are often that they have poured all energy and relating into their children and in the process become somewhat strangers to each other,” says Gail Saltz, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
In addition, the divorce boom reflects that we’re living longer and are all about making every moment count. “People feel more entitled to living fully. They’ve contributed to raising children, and now they want an emotional journey,” according to Lili Vasileff, a certified financial planner and president of Divorce and Money Matters (a divorce financial planning business), who added, “They may have (decades) ahead and don’t want to be unhappy anymore.”
So what are some of the ways for reaching double digit anniversaries year after year? First, recognize that change and growth are good when it comes our significant other or spouse. Secondly, communicate and, most importantly, listen. Thirdly, make a call for help. A professional counselor can bring clarity and insight to the relationship that can keep the marriage bond intact and timeless.
For more about from this story “Splitsville: The Shocking New Divorce Epidemic,” go to https://nexttribe.com/midlife-
ABOUT NEXTTRIBE.COM: NextTribe.com is a web magazine devoted to women ages 45 and over, offering information and inspiration with a healthy dose of irreverence. The motto: Age Boldly!
