Life is fast paced for today’s families. Male and female relationships are constantly being stimulated, interrupted, and agitated with instant messaging, cell phones, voice mail, text messaging, e-mail, TV, movies, magazines, and radio - bombarding all of us with the “ideal” of constant happiness, excitement, and companionship.
Internet romances are becoming common and having an affair in the workplace has gotten easier and more acceptable. Married couples are faced with fewer socially imposed barriers to terminating their relationships.
Men and women are getting divorced for many reasons. With no fault divorce cases, the term “irreconcilable differences” covers a host of causes. This general term can mask uncomfortable realities we would rather not be publicly known. Some of the reasons for divorce I have seen include:
-Extramarital affairs
-Emotional and physical abuse
-Family strains (financial, health, in-laws)
-Midlife crisis
-Addictions-alcoholism, gambling, drugs
-Workaholism
-Sex changes and shifts in sexual preference
-Children (behavior, death, mixed families with stepchildren)
-Boredom and conflicting personal goals
-Lack of sexual compatibility
-Religious conflicts
-Desire for sole custody of children
If you are planning to marry for the second time or your adult child is marrying for the first time - give them this list above. Make sure they discuss and write down their dreams, fears, and expectations when it comes to marriage. Interview the perspective bride or groom’s family as far back as possible. It is better to look beyond lust and do your homework up front, than be caught in the midst of one of the items on this list during the marriage.