Their remarriage seems to have worked. Their sexual relationship has begun to blossom as never before. Furthermore, neither Roy nor Glenda are now willing to “give up what we have and go through all of that again with someone else.” Thus, they have come to recognize the value of a central ingredient in successful remarriages: a commitment to the relationship and an unwillingness to be distracted from this relationship by either partner having an affair with another person.
Key Chapter Points
Enduring couples:
• Make conscious choices to work at preserving the relationship when enmeshed in trouble and chaos
• Move through period of relative stability and considerable contentment followed by periods of significant stress and disillusionment resulting in profound changes in the structure or goals of the relations—remarriage.
• Experience at least one remarriage during the life of their relationship, either of a public or private nature.
• Believe consciously or unconsciously that their partner is capable of and willing to undergo the stress of a remarriage.
• Demonstrate a willingness to risk the relationship in order to improve it.
• Are committed to working within the relationship rather than outside of it.
• Find that restructuring the relationship with compromise and concessions results in a revitalization of their relationship.
