Book Review: Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges and Joys by Dorothy Littel Greco
Marriage can be difficult at every stage, but especially during transitions. Do you remember the struggles and adjustments that you made when you newly wed? Then the relationship changed again when kids came into the family. Chances are good you have avoided or left unresolved many issues over the last 20+ years. Now that it’s just the two of you again, those issues are going to come back to the forefront.
This book is specifically addressed to the marriage issues that surface during Midlife. Written from a Christian perspective, it addresses issues that are basic to any marriage, but illustrates and addresses them as they occur in Midlife. Greco reminds us of the telos of our marriage and offers instruction and hope for how we reclaim (or find) that sense of purpose. The author identifies three “essential traits” for the work that must be done during this pivot: malleability, resilience and engagement.
In addition to a candid discussion of the issues that occurred in her marriage and family, Greco includes interviews with other couples relating to the subjects of each chapter that are very frank and instructive. Each chapter concludes with questions for “Going Deeper” with yourself and your spouse.