No relationship is perfect. Each has its share of ups and downs. But there are certain points during marriage when most couples can potentially experience similar levels of risk in the relationship.
Although each marriage’s circumstances are unique, studies have shown patterns of pivotal junctures that may lead couples to contemplate their Rhode Island divorce.
Critical phases
After you’ve shared your vows filled with commitments to a lifetime partnership, the high of the honeymoon phase as a newly married couple may die down. The daunting reality of merging your life with another person, with their quirks and all, sets in. While some see this as an opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level, you may begin to doubt whether married life is the path for you.
When you’ve survived the initial years, the next stages have their own sets of challenges:
- Four-year funk: You begin to consider other milestones – having a child, advancing in your career or starting a business. These are all significant changes that entail major decisions, which may cause disputes between you and your spouse.
- Seven-year itch: When the relationship seems to plateau or does not contribute any excitement to your life, you may feel bored. Out of dissatisfaction, you may search for other outlets to release your passion.
- Ten-year turbulence: Eight family relationship scholars led a Brigham Young University project, entitled “Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences,” studying 11,000 couples across the country for ten years. This effort aimed to establish how life events – the child’s academic journey, job transitions, financial hurdles or housing movements – impact a married couple’s relationship. Their findings showed that marital dissatisfaction may peak after a decade-long marriage.
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to these crucial seasons in your marriage, professionals recommend maintaining open communication, physical intimacy and healthy compromises, among solutions to keep the relationship going.
Defying the odds
Despite your best efforts, suppose divorce becomes inevitable, especially when your or your child’s safety is under imminent threat. In that case, you may overcome your situation by seeking legal counsel to discuss your options and fight for your and your child’s future.