Did you know that January is tagged as the national divorce month because courts receive a record number of filing to terminate a marriage during this period?
Dr. Stacy Ikard of the Cornerstone Counseling said that many couples strategically file for divorce at the start of the year for tax purposes. They could still file for taxes as a couple to ease the financial burden brought on by a divorce.
The expert also believes that January divorces are high because it's when most parents realize that they are better off separated than together after the holiday festivities have calmed down. However, couples should not ideally reach a point where divorce is the only option.
Amid the growing number of divorces in the U.S., here are some steps to take for parents to have a stronger marriage:
Communication is key.
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, communication between spouses is the best approach to a healthy marriage. Couples should be open and honest about their feelings, but they also need to let the other spouse know of their frustrations and disappointments without losing kindness and respect for each other.
While it's okay to disagree on some issues, it's also good to listen to your partner's opposing point of view. Communicate your gratefulness for your partner and the life you have built together in simple ways like helping with the kids at home or taking on other household chores that you will not normally do.
Focus on your partner's strengths.
Relationship expert Ellen Chute said that couples should learn to accept each other's strengths and weaknesses to form realistic expectations. Parents should focus on their strengths and help their spouses harness these strengths to gain "relational satisfaction."
The experts also said that the notion that partners "complete each other" might seem romantic but can't apply to the real world. A healthy relationship between parents isn't about completing each other but complementing each other.
"We should be secure, mature, and whole in ourselves while being open to the other person," said relationship author Suzann Pileggi Pawelski.
Focus on your marriage as much as you focus on your hobbies.
Lina Guillen, a divorce attorney, wrote that couples should make an effort in their marriage. If they spend a lot of time and money enjoying their hobbies as individuals, they must spend the same time, money, and effort on their marriage. While it's true that the romance in a marriage may "wax and wane," a healthy union's good times will always outweigh the bad times.
To work on a marriage, parents have to do fun things together, such as bowling, watching movies, going on trips, or golfing as a team. While it's also good to pursue separate hobbies, they can run the risk of growing apart if they spend more time in activities without the other. A marriage is a partnership that requires a lot of togetherness from both spouses to strengthen their bond.
