{"id":3015,"date":"2020-03-04T19:10:57","date_gmt":"2020-03-05T00:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/terrygaspard\/?p=3015"},"modified":"2020-03-04T19:22:46","modified_gmt":"2020-03-05T00:22:46","slug":"how-do-i-save-my-marriage-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/terrygaspard\/2020\/03\/how-do-i-save-my-marriage-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Save My Marriage?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Dear Terry,<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been married for three years and the issues and stress we have is too much sometimes. When we were dating, things were fun and we had a lot in common. Dave and I were both recently divorced and met through a friend. It wasn\u2019t romantic at first, but then we started hanging out together and realized we had a lot in common and there was a spark. We both love music, play an instrument, and are teachers.<\/p>\n

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I guess the real problems started when he moved in with me and my two daughters who are twelve and fourteen. Meghan and Teresa didn\u2019t take to him easily and there were a lot of arguments over shores, homework, and lack of respect from them to Dave. I get tired of being in the middle and sometimes it\u2019s just easier to let them argue. But one day last week, Meghan called Dave a dictator and she ran over to her friend\u2019s house without telling me where she was going. I was so mad, I grounded her for a week.<\/p>\n

Another issue is that Dave is ten years older than me and his kids are grown. Honestly, he forgets how hectic things can get and he makes a lot of comments like \u201cMy boys never left dishes in the sink\u201d or \u201cThey always did their homework without being ask.\u201d Somehow, I don\u2019t believe things went that smoothly and when he says these things, it doesn\u2019t help, it just makes my girls dislike him even more.<\/p>\n

Most of the time Dave and I get along on the nights Meghan and Teresa are at their dads (4 nights a month) but lately, we\u2019re too tired to go out or even be intimate. I still love him, but I\u2019m starting to wonder if I got married too soon after my divorce and if Dave is a good match for me. I would appreciate any advice you can give.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

Darlene<\/p>\n

Dear Darlene,<\/p>\n

The increased pressures of living in a stepfamily can bring a marriage to the breaking point. The challenges of raising kids, working, scrambling for time for romance, let alone time for sex; can make couples feel discouraged. However, before you make a decision about whether to end your remarriage, please try the rituals below and read the checklist after that. Be sure to take things slow. Getting a divorce is a major life decision, and it can take at least four years for members of a stepfamily to adjust.<\/p>\n

Even though you are very busy, I highly recommended that you establish a ritual of spending at least 30-minutes a day together. Select a few activities from the list below:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Rituals That Can Restore Intimacy and Ignite Passion: <\/strong>30-Minute Alone Time Activities <\/strong><\/p>\n