Newlyweds the Second Time Around

I feel as though I've neglected a large segment of the newlyweds population, those who are newlyweds for the second time. Either divorce or death brought their first marriage to a close -- and now they are giving it a go with someone new. This group of newlyweds tends to be a little older and more cautious about relationships. Often, the newlyweds bring with them more than just furniture and wall hangings from their previous life; many of them have children, who they have been raising either alone or with their ex. The goal of these couples is to not only start a life with one another, but also with each other's children. Creating a family all at once is no easy task.

Like first timers, these newlyweds must spend time getting to know each other better, working on their communication skills, having great sex, and constantly improving their relationship. But they might also have to strive to parent their children well and work with exes to raise healthy, stable adults. In addition, they have to battle the urge to make comparisons between this new partner and marriage and their previous ones. They also must work extra hard to learn from the mistakes of their past rather than repeating them, especially if they are marrying a second time because they are divorced from their first spouse.