When my friend Joni reached her mid-40s she had a startling realization about her marriage. She and her husband were living separate lives under the same roof. This was punctuated by the fact that they hadn’t had sex in years.
With their only child preparing to attend university, they realized it no longer made sense to stay married to each other. My friend’s experience with marriage and divorce is common. According to Statistics Canada, the average age of divorce is 48 years.
While divorce rates are declining in Canada, there is a surprising surge among middle-aged and baby boomers. Recent data shows divorce rates for those aged 55 to 64 are at 46% – a number that’s slowly creeping up. For many, life kicks into high gear in their late 40s and 50s.
This includes increased financial responsibilities and major life changes, such as career shifts, grief over losing loved ones, raising kids, and evolving personal goals and identities. These factors can create added stress for even the happiest of couples. This has contributed to what experts call the rise of “grey divorce” — couples parting ways in the mid-40s and beyond.
It’s a sign that attitudes towards marriage and divorce are shifting, says Deepa Tailor, an expert in relationship and marital trends from DivorceLawyers.ca. “People are focusing more on their own happiness and fulfillment,” she says.
With that being said, divorce is a huge life shift that can be incredibly challenging. Even though my friend .