U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
The psychologist Paul Tournier once said, “I’ve been married six times, all to the same woman.”
Tournier explained that he never got divorced, but rather his marriage transitioned from one stage to another.
All healthy marriages experience change and transition. That’s what keeps them alive and growing. Some of the stages of growth are predictable, others are not.
In this overview of the stages of marriage, a marriage is divided into time frames of:
• Newly married (0-5 years)
• Middle years (6-25 years), which usually coincides with the active parenting stage
• Later years (26+ years), also known as the “empty nest” years
Not all marriages fit neatly into these categories. Those in second marriages may find times shortened; however, certain developmental tasks generally take place during each stage.
Another way of looking at transitions in marriage is through cycles of growth. Relationships move through cycles that include:
• Romance
• Disillusionment
• Mature love
In this framework, the stages emerge more quickly, with disillusionment often coming soon after the honeymoon. Mature love evolves-hopefully-after several years of marriage.
In “The 7 Stages of Marriage,” Harrar and DeMaria identify the stages as:
• Passion
• Realization
• Rebellion
• Cooperation
• Reunion
• Explosion
• Completion
The essential point is that a marriage is a process. It evolves. It helps to know what
to expect at the various stages.
— From http://www.foryourmarrige.org
