The majority of baby boomers are unlikely to tell their grandchildren of marrying age that the secrets to reaching silver and gold wedding anniversaries is hard work and a sense of humor. That’s because nearly 1 out of 4 people going through a divorce in the United States is over the age of 50, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This phenomenon known as “gray divorce” belongs to a generation that isn’t afraid to fight for equality, happiness, and take what they want for themselves – including freedom from an unsatisfying marriage.
Though the overall divorce rate has been on a decline since 1990, the divorce rate for Americans over the age of 50 has doubled and, for people over the age of 65 the rate has more than doubled. There are two very large reasons why so many older couples are parting ways.
10 ways to plan for retirement after divorce >>
Conquering Empty Nest Syndrome
The kids are gone, and decades of devoting your lives to children have suddenly evaporated. Husband and wife are left with each other and they may discover that – after spending years in a child-centric household – they haven’t nurtured their own relationship. Whether they don’t have all that much in common anymore, or just haven’t put in the effort to continually bond over the years, this disconnect is far too often simply embraced as truth and results in divorce. (But counseling is certainly worth a shot after so many years together!)
Be Prepared for Retirement Hurdles
When both halves of a couple find themselves suddenly at home together for the majority of every day, there can be some friction. You’ve waited decades for free time – for yourself and to dedicate to each other. Now that you have the time to spare, it may be more of a hindrance than anything, particularly to your relationship. Get a hobby or find a way to get out of the house – separately. You have to ease into retirement after years of being apart for 8+ hours every day and learn how to live together again. Unfortunately, some couples discover they don’t want to live with this person anymore, or they have drastically different visions for retirement. In cases like these, divorce is almost inevitable.
The baby boomer generation is an independent one, and it is full of women who have worked full-time and are still working full-time, which means they’re less afraid of divorce than the females in preceding generations. They know they’re financially capable of supporting themselves and don’t need to stay in an unhappy marriage purely for security.
How a Michigan divorce can impact retirement >>
If you have reached the point where divorce is on your list of retirement to-dos, contact Michigan Divorce Help in Mt. Clemens, MI, to schedule your no-cost today. You don’t have to be part of the graying divorce trend but, if you are, we are here to help.