Photo: Ari Michelson
Dan Reynoldswent through a very difficult time before reconciling with wifeAja Volkman.
“It was my apocalypse,” musician Volkman, 32, tellsParentsin a new cover story, as she and theImagine Dragonsfrontman, 32, open up about their temporary split and parenting their four children: twin girlsGia James and Coco Rae, 2½, and older daughterArrow Eve, 7, as well as 4-week-old sonValentine— who was still inside his mama’s belly when the family posed together for their photo shoot.
“I have so much gratitude now because I learned to be fearless and to not compromise,” she continues. “Also, the one thing that never faltered ishow much we love our children.”
“We didn’t speak much to each other for seven months. Then we started dating again,” Volkman adds. “We gota second chance at our marriage.”
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Dan Reynolds and family forParents.Ari Michelson
Dan Reynolds and daughter Arrow forParents.Ari Michelson
“Any parent I see, I immediately respect on a deep level for being in the trenches,” Volkman chimes in. “Parenting has been the most thrilling, fulfilling part of our relationship and our life. Marriage is work. Keepinga family together is a lot of work.”
Dan Reynolds and family coverParents.Ari Michelson
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In June, the rocker opened up to PEOPLE about how the pair have been working on their relationship — including through therapy — to get to a healthy place today.
“We’ve been going through marriage counseling and putting ina lot of work to keep our family strong,” he said. “Fortunately for us, we worked through it. If that hadn’t have been the case for us, there’s many people before us who paved that route and still raised great kids together or go on to be friends, or whatever it is. Relationships are complex.”
The Grammy winner went on to note that “no relationship is perfect,” explaining, “Sometimes it doesn’t work out and that’s okay; sometimes people separate for a little bit and theyend up deciding to get back togetherand that’s okay. We have this obsession with perfection right now.”
“I think that’s really dangerous because then everybody has false expectations and hopes for this beautiful, perfect marriage or life partner, and it’s just going to be perfect — and that’s just not the case,” Reynolds added.
source: people.com
