6 Challenges of Second Marriages and how to overcome them

Getting married for the second time takes courage as there is always that risk of a second marriage turning out to be like your first one.

Getting married again does not mean that you are not jaded- you’re likely to still be skeptical and afraid but willing to overcome that for the person you love. So now you have bravely embarked on a second marriage with hope and determination.

Certainly, there is an expectation that things will go better this time than they did last time around.

Although statistics show that more second marriage divorce rate is higher than first marriages, you must not have to worry about the second marriage success rates.

After looking at unhealthy patterns in your previous marriage, you will enter this marriage more prepared.

This article will look at 6-second marriage challenges or risks of a second marriage and how best to overcome them.

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1. The challenge of putting the past to rest

The secrets to a successful second marriage are whether you are really and truly over your previous marriage.

We all know the dangers of ‘rebound’ relationships, but perhaps several months or years had already passed since your last marriage and you thought you were high and dry.

Actually, time alone is not always enough to put the past to rest, if you have not thoroughly dealt with whatever happened. It’s like stuffing all the toxic stuff into your emotional basement and hoping it will never surface again – but it does, and usually at the most inconvenient and stressful times.

Whether you experienced the death of a spouse or the death of a marriage, it is essential to grieve your losses before you can reach a place of acceptance.

Forgiveness is a great help in putting the past to rest; forgive yourself, your former spouse, and anyone else involved.

This does not mean you excuse or approve of what happened, but rather that you have decided to lay down your past and no longer allow yourself to be controlled by it.

When you are able to do this you can focus fully on making a success of your relationship with your new spouse.

2. The challenge of learning your lessons

No mistake or bad experience is ever wasted if you can learn from it. In fact, what you have learned from your first marriage can be some of the most valuable lessons which will make or break your second marriage.

So you need to take a long hard look at what did and didn’t work the first time around. This insight can be helpful in identifying what makes a marriage successful.

Be honest about the part you played – there are always two sides to every story. Are there some ways you behave that are difficult to live with, and how are you going to change those behaviors or habits?

Be very clear about what it is that you could not tolerate about your former spouse, and then avoid getting involved with someone who displays those same traits.

If you take up the challenge of learning your lessons well from your first marriage you could have a very good head start at making the success of your second marriage.

3. The challenge of children

Another common second marriage problem without a doubt, bringing children into a second marriage. Various scenarios include either you or your new partner having children while the other doesn’t, or you both have children.

Whatever your particular variation is, you need to think through all the implications very carefully. Bear in mind that it usually takes a while for children to accept their new parent (or stepparent).

Some studies have shown that it can take around five years or more for two families to truly ‘blend’. Think about all the schedules that will need to be juggled around visitation times with the other parents involved and holiday arrangements.

An area that often causes a lot of friction is parenting styles and how to discipline children.

This is where you and your spouse really need to be on the same page, especially when the biological parent is absent.

Some people may think that it is a challenge to raise children in your second marriage but it is not so. You can surely experience that children are a blessing and create a special blended family instead.

Also, if you are contemplating a remarriage and “step-children causing marriage problems” is a concern looming large on your mind, you need to think things through, confide in your partner about your cause of worry and even seek support from a family therapist for formal intervention.

4. The challenge of ex-spouses

Second marriages usually involve one or two ex-spouses, unless you have been widowed. Although most divorced couples manage to be civil and decent with each other, this is not always the case in remarriage after divorce.

If there are children involved, remember that your new spouse will be obliged to have contact with his or her ex-spouse to arrange visitation, pickups and other practical matters.

This brings us back to the first and second challenges – putting the past to rest and learning your lessons.

If these two areas have been handled well, then you should be able to proceed smoothly with your second marriage.

If not, you may be faced with codependent tendencies, especially where there had been abuse or addictions, and where there is a manipulative or pathological ex.

Any form of over-involvement with an ex-spouse will cause problems in a second marriage.

Also, being open and honest about the state of the previous divorce is important, as well as being on the same page with your current partner about involvement of the ex partner, whether there are children involved or not.

If you are getting married again after divorce and are struggling with this don’t hesitate to get help from a counselor or therapist.

5. The challenge of finances

Money, money, money! We just can’t get away from it… and it is a well-known fact that finances are one of the biggest struggles married couples face, regardless of whether it is a first or second marriage.

In reality, money has a lot to do with trust.

When a couple gets married they need to decide whether they will combine their incomes or keep separate accounts.

When entering a second marriage, most people have already faced severe financial losses and setbacks during the divorce, making them even more financially vulnerable than in their first marriage.

Another essential rule for a successful second marriage or the best way to handle the challenge of finances is to be completely open and transparent with each other, at the onset of getting married after a divorce.

After all, if you want to make this marriage last you will have to learn to trust each other and be honest about any expenses or debts you may have.

6. The challenge of commitment

The fact that this is your second marriage later in life, may consciously or subconsciously affect your view of divorce – in the sense that you have been through it once already, so you are more open to the possibility of a second one.

Although nobody enters a second marriage with this in mind, there is always the possibility if things get rough.

Some studies have shown that this ‘normalization’ of divorce can be one of the main reasons why second marriages fail.

Instead of trying to figure out how long do second marriages last, the way to overcome this challenge is to be fully committed to your second marriage.

You may have been divorced once before but you can choose to view that as the first and last time. Remember, successful second marriages are not an exception.

Now you are committed for life to your second spouse, and you can both put your wholehearted effort into making your marriage relationship as beautiful and special as can be and resolving second marriage problems while maintaining a unified front.

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Rachael Pace Author

Rachael Pace is a noted relationship writer associated with Marriage.com. She provides inspiration, support, and empowerment in the form of motivational articles and essays. Rachael enjoys studying the evolution of loving partnerships... Read more and is passionate about writing on them. She believes that everyone should make room for love in their lives and encourages couples to work on overcoming their challenges together. Read less

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