Marital Satisfaction When Raising Teenagers
Various studies often point to raising teenagers as a major factor in marital dissatisfaction. This can be a scary statistic because for many couples, by the time their children become teenagers, they are approaching a time that many couples divorce. The stress of raising children is difficult for many couples. However, when children reach the teenage years, struggling couples may divorce due to the increased stress.
Most couples report decreased marital satisfaction after they have children. However, many think that this is temporary. They assume that once the children are older and more independent, they'll have more time together and will reconnect. 
However, if people don't maintain a close marriage while their children are young, those teenage years can be too much for some couples to handle. Teenage children bring on new stressors that often highlight differences in parenting styles. As children try to assert their independence, it is more important than ever to be able to show a united front. Teenagers require a certain level of freedom but also need guidance in how to start making important decisions for themselves.
It's important to nurture your marriage. Many couples feel like they are doing a great thing for their children by always putting their children first and sacrificing their time and energy as a couple. If you enter into the teenage years with a strong marriage, you'll be much better equipped to handle the associated stressors.
If you and your partner aren't feeling prepared for the teenage years, make effort to reconnect. Consider marriage counseling to help prepare you if necessary. It is important to address these problems as soon as possible.
If your children are already teenagers and your marriage is struggling, also consider getting help. It can be very damaging to teenagers to deal with parent conflict and divorce. And don't despair. Most studies report that marital satisfaction seems to increase when a couple becomes empty-nesters. So there's light at the end of the tunnel!
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