Advice for the Marriage Minded
Advice for When You Think You're Ready to Settle Down
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini
Advice Seeker: Dear April Masini,
I'm at a point where I'm trying to figure out what I want my life to be like. I live in a major metropolitan city, have a great job, and tons of friends, but it still feels like that's not enough. My secret desire is to get married, but it just seems so - dated. So old-fashioned. What do you think? Keep dating, or finally settle down with the guy I'm currently dating?
From,
Marriage-Minded
April Masini's advice:
Dear Marriage-Minded,
First of all, I think that once you start asking the question, you know what the answer is. Simply put - you're ready. You're ready to stop messing around with different people, and to share your life with someone who you know you can count on, someone who understands and really knows you. And while it might be a desire as old as civilization itself, there's nothing old-fashioned about it. Just look at all of the reality shows that have marriage as the ultimate prize!
What is old-fashioned, though, is thinking your life is going to be a cakewalk once you have a ring on your finger and the same person lying next to you in bed every night. Marriage is not the solution to all of your problems, and if you approach it thinking that it is, you'll be sorely disappointed. Marriage - or rather a good marriage - can, however, provide a solid foundation that supports other areas of your life. But it takes work, hard work, even in the best of marriages.
Another way to avoid being "dated?" Try taking the science and study of our 21st century into your marriage. There has been a lot of research in the area of what makes a good marriage work and why, and it's applicable to almost all marriages. Learn from what the experts have discovered and use it to your advantage in your marriage, or better yet - when looking for your partner.
Here's some of what we know about the qualities, skills, and characteristics that make a marriage last. If you're looking for someone, make sure they have them. And if you're already with your partner, cultivate them. Both are possible.
Studies Show That You're Less Likely to Divorce if You Marry By the Time You're 30:
Though people are increasingly getting married later - and popular ideas say that the older you are when you marry, the better - there does seem to be a "most desirable age," and it's before you hit your 30s. Speculation abounds about why this is the case, but no definitive answer has been reached. If you're around 28 or 29, it's time to start doing some serious looking.
Good Communication Skills are Said to be The #1 Quality Necessary for Making a Marriage Last:
It may sound like an exaggeration, but if you don't have open and effective lines of communication, you won't have a lasting relationship. That means that you know how to get your ideas across (and understand your partner's), you can have a disagreement without it necessarily escalating, and if/when it does escalate, you know how to fight. Which leads me to the next point...
Knowing How to Fight - And Fight Fair - Will Help:
Having a relationship where no one ever raises their voices or fights may sound nice, but it's not the norm. Fighting can be a perfectly healthy part of a relationship - and there's nothing quite like the "making up" that often comes with the territory. But to keep fighting from becoming a destructive force, couples do need to establish limits and boundaries before the fighting ensues. Here are three tips that work for most couples:
1. Don't let it get personal. As soon as it does, you've lost control and are just being vicious.
2. Have a code word that you can say when you feel it's getting out of hand that will put a stop to the fight, or at least give you some space.
3. Agree to disagree. You're not always going to come to a consensus, and fighting until you do can prove futile.
Sex and Money are Cited as the Two Most Common Reasons for Divorce:
Knowing what some of the "triggers" are for divorce is a valuable tool if you use it to your advantage. In the case of sex and money, this means that if you're still looking for a partner, finding someone who you have a good sexual chemistry with, and a similar approach to financial issues is wise. And even if you seem on the same page (or are already married), you should also always sit down with your partner and ask them pointed questions, like:
1. Are they satisfied - really satisfied - with your current sex life?
2. How many times a day/week/month do they want to have sex once you're married?
3. What can you do to make their experience even better, and vice versa?
4. How do they feel about money? Is it a taboo subject or one they're comfortable with?
5. How do they envision money being dealt with in the marriage? Will one person be the bread-winner? Who will handle the bills?
And if the thought of having this conversation makes you uncomfortable, just think about how much more uncomfortable you'll be when your partner is looking elsewhere in a few years because they aren't satisfied. A little blushing now just might save you a lot of heartache later. To constantly keep your relationship feeling like new, read April Masini's book, Romantic Date Ideas for some great date ideas.
You may also be interested in:
Dating Advice for Women, Dating Tips for Guys, Ideas for a Fun Date, Romantic Date Ideas, Better Sex, Kissing Tips
April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.
Dating Books
