Every marriage is unique, but most follow similar path that flow though seven distinct stages.
Understanding the work required at each can give you a road map for handling rough times, and help you and your spouse focus on how to be happy, secure and satisfied.
1.
The Passion Stage Checklist Are you in the Passion stage? You may be in the Passion stage if: You see yourselves as newlyweds You feel madly in love You crave your partner when you're apart, and when you're together, you live in your own private romantic world Your relationship is all about passion, excitement, sex, and intimacy You have a hard time focusing on things other than your relationship You've been married for two years or less (though some couples report the honeymoon phase lasting five years or longer!) 2.
The Realization Stage Checklist Are you in the Realization stage? You may be in the Realization stage if: The initial romance and passion of your marriage are waning You find yourselves negotiating things you never worried about before You are frequently explaining things about yourself to your partner You spend lots of time establishing rules for how you'll function as partners Your partner suddenly seems less than perfect -- you discover he or she has flaws and imperfections just like everybody else For the first time, you find your spouse irritating, annoying, even boring You have asked yourself recently if you made the right choice in a mate You've been married for at least six months (couples may start experiencing the challenges of the Realization stage even sooner, or as long as two years after marrying) 3.
The Rebellion Stage Checklist Are you in the Rebellion stage? You may be in the Rebellion stage if: You and your spouse are having regular power struggles You or your spouse has had an affair -- or is close to having one One or both of you feel a consistent desire for freedom and independence to pursue individual interests You find yourself backing away from your spouse and your marriage You've been married for at least two years -- although the Rebellion stage can start early in a marriage (especially if you lived together first or dated for a long time before your marriage) and last for years or even decades 4.
The Cooperation Stage Checklist Are you in the Cooperation stage? You may be in the Cooperation stage if: You have children living at home You have bought a house or condominium in the past five years Both you and your spouse have dynamic professional careers Money management is a big issue due to lots of money either coming into or going out of your accounts Your to-do list on any given day is so long it could never be completed in 24 hours You've been happily married for more than five years 5.
The Reunion Stage Checklist Are you in the Reunion stage? You may be in the Reunion stage if: Your children have left home or can take care of themselves Your careers are running smoothly You have more time for yourselves Your finances are at least somewhat secure The two of you can start and finish a conversation without frequent interruptions You perceive your spouse more as a business partner than as a soul mate You've been married 15 to 25 years 6.
The Explosion Stage Checklist Are you in the Explosion stage? You may be in the Explosion stage if: You or your spouse has just experienced a major career, health, or parenting crisis Catastrophe has struck your home or family A major positive experience has just happened, like winning a lottery or getting a promotion that dramatically changes your role at work and at home 7.
The Completion Stage Checklist Are you in the Completion stage? You may be in the Completion stage if: The "building" stages of your marriage -- kids, career, saving for the future -- are over Health and happiness are more important issues today than career and child-raising Fighting between you and your spouse has declined substantially in recent years You've been married more than 25 years That all about The 7 Stage of Marriage..
Understanding the work required at each can give you a road map for handling rough times, and help you and your spouse focus on how to be happy, secure and satisfied.
1.
The Passion Stage Checklist Are you in the Passion stage? You may be in the Passion stage if: You see yourselves as newlyweds You feel madly in love You crave your partner when you're apart, and when you're together, you live in your own private romantic world Your relationship is all about passion, excitement, sex, and intimacy You have a hard time focusing on things other than your relationship You've been married for two years or less (though some couples report the honeymoon phase lasting five years or longer!) 2.
The Realization Stage Checklist Are you in the Realization stage? You may be in the Realization stage if: The initial romance and passion of your marriage are waning You find yourselves negotiating things you never worried about before You are frequently explaining things about yourself to your partner You spend lots of time establishing rules for how you'll function as partners Your partner suddenly seems less than perfect -- you discover he or she has flaws and imperfections just like everybody else For the first time, you find your spouse irritating, annoying, even boring You have asked yourself recently if you made the right choice in a mate You've been married for at least six months (couples may start experiencing the challenges of the Realization stage even sooner, or as long as two years after marrying) 3.
The Rebellion Stage Checklist Are you in the Rebellion stage? You may be in the Rebellion stage if: You and your spouse are having regular power struggles You or your spouse has had an affair -- or is close to having one One or both of you feel a consistent desire for freedom and independence to pursue individual interests You find yourself backing away from your spouse and your marriage You've been married for at least two years -- although the Rebellion stage can start early in a marriage (especially if you lived together first or dated for a long time before your marriage) and last for years or even decades 4.
The Cooperation Stage Checklist Are you in the Cooperation stage? You may be in the Cooperation stage if: You have children living at home You have bought a house or condominium in the past five years Both you and your spouse have dynamic professional careers Money management is a big issue due to lots of money either coming into or going out of your accounts Your to-do list on any given day is so long it could never be completed in 24 hours You've been happily married for more than five years 5.
The Reunion Stage Checklist Are you in the Reunion stage? You may be in the Reunion stage if: Your children have left home or can take care of themselves Your careers are running smoothly You have more time for yourselves Your finances are at least somewhat secure The two of you can start and finish a conversation without frequent interruptions You perceive your spouse more as a business partner than as a soul mate You've been married 15 to 25 years 6.
The Explosion Stage Checklist Are you in the Explosion stage? You may be in the Explosion stage if: You or your spouse has just experienced a major career, health, or parenting crisis Catastrophe has struck your home or family A major positive experience has just happened, like winning a lottery or getting a promotion that dramatically changes your role at work and at home 7.
The Completion Stage Checklist Are you in the Completion stage? You may be in the Completion stage if: The "building" stages of your marriage -- kids, career, saving for the future -- are over Health and happiness are more important issues today than career and child-raising Fighting between you and your spouse has declined substantially in recent years You've been married more than 25 years That all about The 7 Stage of Marriage..
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