| |
| 2 |
Being a realist about marriage - As great as love is, life is not a romance novel, and every relationship comes with its own obstacles and challenges that need to be overcome. Hold each others hand and get through the tough times together, and remember to enjoy the ride. |
| 3 |
Honesty and loyalty - You cannot have love without trust. If you don't trust your partner now, then you need to consider whether you ever will. |
| 4 |
Commitment - By looking at life realistically and communicating any concerns you may have about the future, you can establish an understanding of each others needs and openly and honestly commit to the relationship. By remembering that marriage is a commitment, a relationship can grow through the ups and downs of life. |
| 5 |
Friendship - If you can say you would want to be friends with your partner, whether you were together or not, is a step in the right direction. Lust and romance can eventually become less important in the relationship, but friendship really helps with building the strong foundation for a longlasting marriage. |
| 6 |
Time alone - At the beginning of a relationship you are happily loved up, and doing romantic things together such as going to the movies, and talking for hours on end, but once there are children, and mortgages involved, it may seem like the last thing you both want to do. Even if it's the last thing on your mind, you MUST make time for each other. |
| 7 |
Sacrifices - Sometimes in a marriage, there will be times when one of you will need to make a sacrifice for the sake of the other's happiness. If one or both parties are self-centred and unable to compromise on anything but their needs, it can lead to resentment. At the time a sacrifice is made, it may seem big, but in the long run, the happiness of your partner will prove to be worth the compromise. |
| 8 |
Financial partnership - Finances can prove to add stress to relationships and is the number one reason for divorce. Understanding the roles you both play when it comes to household finances is something that should be established ealry in the relationship and discussed regularly. Whether one of you pay all the bills, or both wages go to the mortgage, and you live off the overdraft, make sure that both parties are happy with the arrangements, and express any concerns you may have before agreeing to anything. |
| 9 |
Parent together - You've been together for a while and decided to start a family. Before long you have a beautiful newborn in your arms, and you have to decide how to raise your child the best you possibly can. Sometimes people forget that you is an 'us', and that two people created this wonderful bundle of joy, and both are likely to have an opinion on how to raise the new addition. It is probable that you were both raised somewhat differently, and have different ideas on how to raise a healthy child. It is important to discuss how you both feel about education, discipline, religion and healthcare before having children, so you can come to an understanding and agreement on what is best for your child and your family. |
| 10 |
Acceptance - You fell in love with your partner for everything they are - good and bad. You have accepted that they are not perfect, as yourself. You have realised that, as much as they do things to annoy you, you would not want or expect them to change. If you dive into marriage, hoping you can change someone, you may be heading for dissapointment. |
Rebecca Halse
|