Rebuilding Your Marriage and Saving Your Family After a Rift

The feeling of a house coming apart is something no one wants to experience. When your wife takes your four kids and leaves, the devastation can be immense. Whether it’s a physical parting of ways or just a deep hurting inside, it can be a tear in the fabric of your life that can seem impossible to mend.

If your wife has left you, it's natural to feel hurt and lost. You love your family, so it's easy to be overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and pain. But there’s hope. With patience and understanding, it is possible to rebuild your marriage and to restore the sweetness of family life you once shared.

Understanding the Needs of Both Spouses

In this painful hardship, communication is key. The rift between you and your wife was created by a lack of understanding. To restore the peace in your household, each of you must work to understand the other’s perspective. Correspnding with each other in a respectful manner may help to open doors of understanding and trust again.

For instance, by expressing your appreciation for the positive parts of your marriage, you could demonstrate love and respect for the bond you share. This can show your wife that you still see value in your relationship. On the other hand, if your wife has explained her unhappiness, try to hear her out. Respectfully consider her grievances — even if you disagree. A willingness to listen and to work together to meet each other’s needs can help foster a spirit of understanding.

Rebuilding Your Relationship

The next step after mutual understanding is to rebuild the trust between you and your wife. Take baby steps to reignite the trust that has been lost. Rebuild the broken pieces of your marriage by creating conversation. Develop hobbies together and make time to spend quality time together.

You can also engage in activities that cost little to no money, such as jogging, playing board games, cooking, or watching movies. Going on dates can help as well. Dates provide an opportunity to socialize, talk, and even calmly argue with one another. Exploring new activities and interests can also provide you both with positivity.

When emotions run high in the present, it may be beneficial to discuss your past experiences with each other. Doing this will allow you to build on the foundation of intimacy and trust that already exists. If a certain memory is causing frustrations, look for ways to move past it and think about a brighter future for your marriage.

Healing and Reconciling with Your Kids

When it comes to your four children, healing and reconciling can be a large and arduous task. With plenty of patience, love, and communication, you can find your way back to the peace you once held within your home.

Empty conversations don’t always hold weight with children. Treat them with respect by using “I” statements, rather than making accusations such as, “You said X...” That kind of language can only create further animosity. Show them more all-encompassing, loving statements like, “I am feeling hurt because…”

It’s also important to remember that children have their own set of emotions and experiences, separate from yours. No matter their age, it’s important to be open to discussing difficult topics but also providing comfort when needed. Check in with your children on how they are feeling and remind them, subtly, of the values you want them to keep and help practice in your home.

Though this difficult journey may seem nearly impossible, stay focused and consistent. Find the guidance and support you need and stay determined to put the pieces back together. This can be a difficult path, but the reward of reuniting your household makes it all worth the effort.