What Do You Expect? Exploring Remarriage Expectations (784 hits)
Susan G Mathis
When Hannah and Tim married, Hannah had some unconscious, even unfair, expectations of her man. Because she'd been mistreated in her first marriage, Hannah expected that Tim might treat her poorly too. So she pressured and questioned, even accused him of things he'd never do. When he far exceeded her expectations, Hannah was pleasantly surprised and learned to trust again.
The expectations we have heading into a second marriage are often quite different from those of a first marriage. Our past experiences and our current circumstances can overshadow the bliss younger couples might have going into a first marriage. There might be issues of trust, safety and security. A death or divorce may bring a cynical, or at least cautious, view of the future. Knowing how these expectations can affect your marriage is important.
In second marriages, the biggest influence is often our previous marriage. Whether you lost a spouse through death or whether there was a divorce, there are usually some negative feelings you need to deal with. Grief over the loss, sadness, depression, anger, pain, hurt and trauma—these emotions and feelings can often affect your expectations of a second marriage and put undo pressure on your mate.
