Loving Midlife Marriage: A Guide to Keeping Romance Alive from the Empty Nest Through Retirement (Paperback)

The over–40 population is the fastest growing demographic group in North America. As the baby boomers age, and as husbands and wives confront the empty nest and approach retirement, their relationships can and do encounter many stresses and strains. Based on over twenty–five years of research, clinical practices, and study, Loving Midlife Marriage is an authoritative and prescriptive book for revitalizing intimacy and keeping marriage alive and well into the golden years. From filling the void left behind by grown children to rediscovering common hobbies and interests that enhance retirement years to rekindling the passion of a long–term love, this book offers practical and realistic strategies for couples to learn how to live with—and truly enjoy—each other as they age.

Betty Polston, PhD (Los Angeles, CA), is a psychotherapist, researcher, and career counselor who has been studying and counseling midlife couples for over twenty–five years. Susan Golant (Los Angeles, CA), is the coauthor with former First Lady Roslynn Carter of Helping Yourself Help Others and Helping Someone with Mental Illness.

"Pioneering and unique . . . looks at the empty nest and retirement marriage square in the face and gives wives and husbands the tools to live happily ever after. When the last child leaves and you’re wondering ‘Who is this person I’m married to?’, read it."–Betty Booker, "Prime Living," Richmond Times—Dispatch

"This book pulls the tape off the hidden spots and instructs the reader how to maintain a good marriage and repair a weakening one. Loving Midlife Marriage is a must read for anyone entering into or struggling with the midlife or retirement years."–Sylvia Weishaus, Ph.D., cofounder of the Making Marriage Work program

"Loving Midlife Marriage opens up a lot of critical issues for discussion between husband and wife."–Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., author of Raising Your Emotional Intelligence: A Practical Guide

Here is an inspiring, practical guide to getting the most out of your midlife marriage. Most marriages face challenges during midlife. This is often caused by two factors: the empty nest and retirement. With the empty nest, you endure the loss of your role as active mother or father; with retirement, you suffer the loss of a role your job gave you for most of your life. Issues in your marriage that seemed to have been settled years ago are up for discussion once again. Loving Midlife Marriage shows you how to deal with:

• Increased time together and changes in personal space
• Joint and separate activities
• Sex and romance issues
• Your adult children

With good communication tools, compassion, and humor, Dr. Betty Polston shows how you can use the extraordinary opportunities midlife offers to gain new perspectives on your marriage. Based on the author’s years of research, filled with questionnaires, advice, and personal anecdotes, Loving Midlife Marriage can help you learn how to grow your marriage to fit your needs. In fact, your midlife marriage may just be the start of a whole new you!