It can be a challenge for your adult children to accept a new marriage or relationship because they might feel jealous, or still have loyalty to their former parent. Dr. Wednesday Martin has stated that having adult children is one of the most likely reasons why a new marriage will fail. So, recognizing this fact, you have to take steps to prevent it. One of the things you can do is to be realistic in what you expect of your children. Introduce this new person to them gradually and even if they resent him or her, make them know that you expect them to be civil. Also, make sure your new mate does not distance you from your kids, even if they are adults. These steps and many others as outlined in the article can make overcoming this challenge possible.
Key Takeaways:
- Adult children often have a worse time than little kids when it comes to adjusting to a parent’s new love in their life.
- Parents can curb the children’s behavior by always making time for them, setting realistic expectations and don’t reveal personal details of your relationship to your children.
- You shouldn’t allow your significant other to keep you from spending time with your family and friends. In addition, remind your children that you’re still there for them.
“Research by Dr. Richard Warshak has found that the underlying dynamics of this conflict can include jealousy, narcissistic injury, desire for revenge, competitive feelings, and parent-child boundary violations.”