by Susie Turk

Created on: February 28, 2008

Second marriages most certainly can work, and they do! How do I know this, you ask? Well, it's because I'm currently less than one year away from the 10th successful year of my second marriage, that's how. You see, at just 22 I was engaged, and pregnant, then married for the first time. At 23, I was a mother. At 24, I was separated. At 25, I was a single parent, happy, and finally FREE. Hallelujah Brother!

At just 25, I moved from California to Utah, where I then began really learning the skills needed to live as an independent, self-sufficient, and mature, single Mother. More than 4 years passed before finally feeling truly open, and ready, to even simply contemplate the notion of marrying again. However, to my own surprise, I did in fact, become open to this possibility. It was only 6 months after having this revelation; I accidentally tripped over my, well, second Husband, and he, his second wife. It was April 1998, and I knew then, what was meant to be would be, and it still is.

Mike and I were married 9 months after we met. We were married in Vegas Baby! We included my son in the ceremony, and he even received, from us, a ring of his own. My family was there; some friend came along as well. It was fabulous! Now, here we are, more than nine years later, still riding the roller coaster, just as we did on the first day of our marriage, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer, or for poorer, here we are, still.

Sure, we've absolutely had our ups, and our downs. What couples haven't? The thing is, we both behold, and continue to maintain the one thing couples forget so easily about: COMMITMENT. We chose one another. There weren't any unknown mitigating factors. We both provided the other with full disclosure. Both of us were clearly aware of the partnership we were agreeing to make, hence, no surprises. What could be better than that? Marrying your very best friend, that's what.

It starts with being friends. We all know that it takes two to Tango, so, of course, marriage takes two. Often times, communication, and trust become difficult to achieve, or they simply remain elusive, however, so long as communication remains available, and open, the ability to achieve continues to exist. The same works in all relationships, at least as far as I'm concerned.

As long as open lines of communication, as well as love, trust, care, thoughtfulness, mutual respect, and compromise are included in my second marriage; things that were not available in my first, success can, and will be achieved. So far, for us, it has been. I believe, as does my husband, that if we're able to achieve success in our second marriage, YOU, can achieve it, too.

Learn more about this author, Susie Turk.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.