But some observers suggest that marital breakdowns are not down drastically. One reason for declining divorce rates, they say, is the decision by couples to deal with their marriage breakdown through separation. There is no breakdown as to how many of the declared separations are arrangements similar to these couples. But marital therapists believe there are more and more Matt and Jennies across Canada. She has worked in the field for 25 years and in recent years has noticed an increasing number of separating couples opting for cohabiting arrangements.
Freeman believes that besides concern for children, economic realities are also a big consideration.
It's a complete shift in attitude. These people aren't really keeping the truth from their family and friends,'' says Diane Marshall, a family therapist and the clinical director of the private Institute of Family Living. What these couples are finding is that the one thing they did well together was parent as a team, says Marshall. Inevitably, this is not a story solely about other people. It's my own personal experience, too.