Our culture has become very child-centric, meaning we place our children in the center of our lives. We make them our number one priority. There are many reasons we do this. Perhaps we felt neglected as children and we want to give our own children better lives. We see everyone else- friends, neighbors, relatives- doing it and we feel compelled to do the same. We are busy with work and feel that all of our free time should be spent with our children, and so on.
Although on the surface of things, these reasons make perfect sense. However, when we live our lives this way, our marriages suffer. We become strangers to our spouses. We feel more connected to our children than our partners. That explains why empty nesters are still divorcing in droves. Once the children leave home, the relationship void feels overwhelming.
I always tell couples that the best thing they can do for their children is to make the marriage the most important thing in their lives. Children benefit enormously when their parents have loving, close relationships. Plus, it makes marital longevity more likely. But most importantly, it models for children what good marriages are all about.
If you find yourself or your spouse paying more attention to your children than each other, stop, and switch gears. That will put your marriage on safer ground.
From:'7 Signs Your Marriage Is In Trouble' Michelle-Weiner Davis www.divorcebusting.com/blog
