Why Putting Kids First Can Kill Your Marriage

As a married couple, no one is as important as your spouse. But in America, once children come on the scene, spouses are quickly replaced in the priority line by children. We press pause on our soul mate and find ourselves putting kids first for the next 18 years. It’s of little surprise that empty nesters have one of the biggest divorce rates in our country.

Child-centered marriages are a common feature of modern families but that’s not necessarily a good thing. This means we consider children and their needs as more important, and more attended to, than those of the adults in the marriage. At first glance, that seems pretty obvious…of course needs of children come before those of adults! But we’re not talking about the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, and love. We are referring to adults spending every waking minute talking with, attending to, or thinking of their children. If a little bit of attention is good for children, a lot should be even better, right? Not quite.

Currently, millions of marriages in America are child-centered. Some experts even suggest that many parents seem to be married to their children, instead of their spouses. It can be surprising to discover that the impact of a child-centered marriage is negative for both the children and the adults involved. Researchers have found that children can enhance a marriage as long as couples do not allow their children to become the center of the marriage. If the marriage becomes child-centered, the couple is at a greater likelihood of divorce. One of the biggest times for divorce is at the empty nest stage. Empty nesters divorce because once the kids are gone, they realize they have lost the only thing that has kept them connected over the years. Everyone, including the children, is better off if the marriage is considered to be “couple-centered” rather than “child-centered.”

You might be wondering if you have a child-centered marriage. Do any of the following behaviors apply to your marriage?

1. Create boundaries with your spouse. Close and lock the door when you need uninterrupted time for just the two of you (assuming your children are either in bed or old enough to care for themselves). Agree to share important information only with one another, and don’t involve the kids in adult conversations.

Just a quick note, if you’ve had a child-centered marriage and you are working to move over to more of a couple-centered marriage, expect that the transition won’t be easy at first. It will be important to explain to your children that you still love them the same, but that you and your mate need special time together. Share with them what to expect and what will be changing (i.e., their sleeping in their bed). The more you can help your children prepare for these changes, the smoother the transition.