A growing number of couples are now remarrying their ex-spouse years after their original divorce. Nicknamed a “boomerang couple” they marry young, split up and remarry each other years later.

According to new research from the Co-Op Legal Services, a quarter of divorcees in the UK have considered reconciliation with their ex. 12 per cent actually got back together. Of these, 73% cited managing to forgive an infidelity as the main reason, while 40% simply admitted to still loving their ex.

According to Harley Street psychotherapist Christine Webber, a ‘new child’ crunch point is a common reason for relationship breakdown – and also explains why so many then want to ‘boomerang’ back later.

She says: “A lot of people go through a very angry phase when their children are quite small and they are trying to have careers – it’s a troublesome time. But then they look back at how it was when it was just the two of them and how well they got on and they do hanker after it. On the whole, people are more tolerant with age. They realise that the sort of things they argued ferociously about when they were younger are actually not that important.”

Reuniting isn’t easy and your original split needs to be fairly amicable.

Christine says: “In order to make it work a second time, people have to have a mutual respect and admit they both made mistakes and they’ve both had a life since. That needs to be respected – you can’t just erase it. Also, you need to put effort into the new relationship, even if it is the second time round. The people I see who make it work are those who have taken on board that when relationships fail, 90% of the time it’s because of the actions of two people, not one.”

In your time apart things change, you both change, but the love that brought you together in the first place can be rekindled now that you are both older and wiser.

The shared history and shared bond that you have because of children and grandchildren can be enough of a pull to try again. For many couples the marriage is a much bigger success the second time around.

Time and wisdom can soften rough edges and improve emotional maturity.

Things improve with age. Experience counts. You’re more skilled in relationships, better able to handle disappointment and negotiate conflict, more willing to be open about yourself and more tolerant with others.

If I can help you avert the pain and trauma of an unnecessary divorce or inspire you to consider a reconciliation then get in touch today.