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Keep Your Marriage BOOMING… or Get Your BOOM Back!

Baby Boomers grew up during a very optimistic, post-war era and took full advantage of it. They were determined to have it better than their parents. Families reaped the benefits of a solid economy. As the largest generation in history, Baby Boomers were competitive. Known as the original “Me Generation,” they felt they were able to get whatever they wanted. They identified strongly by what they did at work, valued long workweeks and upward mobility,  while sacrificing marital and family harmony. Not surprisingly, as they came of age, the Baby Boomer generation saw the U.S. divorce rate triple, resulting in a new era of single-parent homes, stepfamilies, and split custody. Abortion rates were at their highest, along with dual-income families; parenting habits were permissive and children were often left alone to care for themselves.

Many Boomers have experienced guilt related to relationships in their lives. They question: Were my children impacted by my lack of availability? Did I spend enough time doing good in the world? Was I so focused on achieving dreams, a good income, and material goods for my family that I sacrificed spending time on meaningful activities with those I love? These are some of the many reasons why Boomers face troubles in their relationships. 

The Boomer Generation still has the highest divorce rate and as many remarry, most of those relationships will also end in divorce.  The good news is that there is hope for the Baby Boomer generation, they just have to be willing to work for it.  Many couples in this generation have at one point attended some type of counseling.  Counseling is focused on what has happened in the past.  Looking back at the first paragraph, it is easy to see why relationships failed.  But now is not the time to look at the past, it’s time to look to the future

Let’s put it another way.  You have a financial planner to help with your finances,  a trainer to help with your physical well being, a doctor to keep you healthy and children to check on you (maybe).   But how many of you have thought about taking care of your marriage to make sure that is will last? You know the answer: very few, if any. The next question is…who can help you make your golden years with your partner, well, golden?  A coach.

Marriage coaching is a newer concept.  As couples from this generation started divorcing, the need for marriage counseling grew dramatically, helping to solve issues in the past.  Coaching is the opposite. Coaching provides couples with the tools and resources that are results-driven, proactive, strategic and removes fear in your relationship. Coaching is NOT counseling. Questions Boomers will be asked are: how do we keep it fun, how do we keep our relationship intimate and should we try something new–just to name a few.  Coaching can help move a couple from surviving to thriving. 

So as you start or continue with retirement, consider taking that extra time you have on your hands and invest in each other. To get started with your FREE consultation, go to www.WeCoachCouples.org.  Remember, coaching is not just for couples who have hit a bump in the road, it is most definitely also for couples who want to take their marriage from good to great.  It’s an investment that will ensure a lifetime of happiness and keep your relationship BOOMING. 

Chris Beach is the Executive Director of the Relationship Foundation of Virginia.  He lives in Henrico County with his wife of 18 years and four boys.  He is a life-long Richmonder and loves to help couples strengthen their relationships and encourage dads to be active in the lives of their children.  For more information about the Relationship Foundation of VA, go to www.rfva.org.  

 

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Chris Beach is the Executive Director of the Relationship Foundation of Virginia. He lives in Henrico County with his wife of 16 years and four boys. He is a life-long Richmonder and loves to help couples strengthen their relationships, encourage dads to be active in the lives of their children, and teach youth about the fears and joys of healthy relationships. For more information about the Relationship Foundation of VA, go to www.rfva.org.