Did you know that male Military Spouses are more than twice as likely to get divorced when compared to female MilSpouses? What is one thing male spouses can work on to reverse this trend?
Communication
Scott Stanley Ph.D is a research professor and co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver. In this video, he shares his thoughts about why it’s so important for Military couples to communicate! Patrick Donaldson, a Navy spouse of 5 years, shares his personal story and what he is and isn’t able to talk with his wife. He emphasizes finding topics you can talk about that have nothing to do with work. Find ways to support your spouse in their personal life so that they’re better able to deal with work-related stress. Glen Mixon is an Air Force spouse of 24 years and a former Key Spouse who feels communication should be open and honest. You shouldn’t feel that anything is taboo. Enjoy each other and whatever you want to talk about with one another. Francis Leon Guerrero is an Army spouse of 30 years who encourages you to take the good with the bad. Talk through the highs and the lows. Bill Keller is an Air Force spouse of 15 years with over 20 years of Military experience himself. His advice is that the basis of a marriage is communication. Work hard to encourage verbal communication so you’re both on the same page. Jeremy Hilton is an Air Force spouse of 15 years and the 2012 Military Spouse of the Year. His advice is to communicate more than you think is enough. Find new ways to talk to your spouse constantly. Keep things interesting and open. When you talk through problems, you find solutions faster and avoid other issues. Communication is key!What are some traits in your marriage you feel are most important?
Macho Spouse is an educational video series and online resource for male Military Spouses. Our mission is to help male spouses connect with one another and assure that we’re not alone in this Military family lifestyle. Check us out on Twitter and Facebook. The thoughts and opinions posted here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of AAFMAA.
