Relationships and Life Passages

Every life consists of many passages: childhood, adolescence, midlife, age. This is also true for relationships. After the initial falling in love sooner or late everyday life intrudes. The wish to be together is alternated by the quest for more autonomy. A new phase is entered when the first child is born and much later when the children leave their parents’ house. The couple has to find itself anew.

Your partnership in midlife

After 15, 20 or 25 or more years of being together you can look back on a lot of mutually lived experience and adventures. A lot of beautiful things connect you. But you also conquered crises and illnesses together. When you want to find yourself anew in the middle of life, this inevitably also affects your relationship.

                        Your partnership in retirement
Whether you and your partner prepare for or start your retirement at the same time or with some years in-between – in both cases hitherto unknown conflicts can occur. Examples are the new division of responsibilities at home or new interests and activities that you and your partner want to implement. In addition, you have to discuss the topic of nearness versus distance anew. Now you are together all the time. In the beginning that can be a joy. But unexpected problems may surface, if the needs and your partner differ largely in that area.

In spite of many differences between your life situation in midlife and before your retirement, similar topics may be on your mind.
- What role conflicts do you have?
- How can you redefine your roles?
- What do you expect from your partner and from yourself?
- How pronounced are your needs for nearness and distance?
- Which new activities and interests do and your partner wish to pursue – alone or together?