In the same way that building positive momentum in your life takes time and a series of baby steps, so does building a healthy long-term relationship. Before you jump into making any of the big decisions that come with love (moving in together, engagement, marriage, children, etc), ensure that you and your partner are on the same page when it comes to the things that matter.
In her Psych Central article, Dr. Marie Hartwell-Walker specifies 14 areas that need to be honestly discussed prior to further commitment. Some of them you may not have considered! Enjoy.
“You’re in love — deeply, passionately, crazy in love. You want to move in together. You are sure you want to share the rest of your lives. You want to marry.
Stop! Before you reserve the moving truck or buy the ring, take the time to discuss the issues that can make or break your relationship. Love really isn’t enough. Once the pheromones calm down, once you get over the intoxicating time of new love, how you handle these topics will decide whether you will have lasting love. It’s essential that you are on the same page, or at least in the same chapter, when it comes to your feelings or convictions about each one.
Fidelity. Do you have a common understanding of what being faithful means? What would each of you consider to be “cheating”? Is it okay with you if your partner has friends of the other gender? Where is the line between being a friend to others and doing things that will jeopardize your relationship?
Sex. Few couples keep up the frequency and intensity of new-love sex. What is a comfortable rhythm for each of you? When and how and how often do you like to have sex? If you like it in the evening and your partner only wants it in the morning, it can be trouble. How adventuresome or athletic are you each willing to be? How generous are you in satisfying each other?
Money. This is even harder for many couples to talk about than fidelity and sex. What are your attitudes about who should provide for the family? Who should pay the bills? Do you have similar ideas about what should be mine, yours, and ours? Have you been honest about any debts that you are bringing into the relationship? Are you on the same page about how money is spent and how much should be saved? Who is going to take responsibility for such things as insurance, taxes, and retirement accounts?
Work. What is the role of work in each of your lives? Are you in agreement about how hard each of you should work and the choices you should each make about bringing in the money? If one or both of you is in a high-powered career, what are you each willing to sacrifice to make it possible? If one of you out-earns the other, does it matter in terms of decision-making? Will the agreement change if you have children?
Leisure time. What are your ideas about how much of your leisure time you spend together and how much you spend with your individual friends? Is it okay with each of you for the other to go out for a guys’ or girls’ night out? Do you have strong feelings about what can happen then? What do you like to do together that will ensure that you will continue to have some fun as a couple?
Health and fitness. Related to the use of leisure time is how you each regard the importance of the basics: getting enough sleep, eating well, getting in some exercise as part of your routine. Are you in agreement about bedtime and about nutritional choices? Are you supportive of each other in building activity into your lives? Do you have similar views about getting to the dentist and routine doctor visits?
Social media and gaming. What is the place of video gaming, texting, and computer surfing and chatting in your lives? Do either of you have strong feelings that some sites or games aren’t appropriate? How much time can be devoted to gaming and screen time before it becomes a threat to your relationship?
Church, charity and volunteering. Do you share religious or spiritual beliefs? If not, do you respect each other’s? If you have children, will there be issues about which religion they will be raised in? Do you agree about how much time and money should go to charitable work and volunteering to better your community?
Kids. Are you on the same page about having children? If you are going to have kids, do you have similar ideas about when and how many? How about discipline? Do you share an approach to child-rearing? And how will you each distribute time for childcare, carpools, kid activities, and family time?
Relationships with in-laws. How much time do you think you should spend with relatives? What occasions are non-negotiable events for each family? Where do you set your boundaries? Are relatives welcome to drop in any time they please or do they need to have an engraved invitation three months in advance to visit you?
Chores. Arguments about who cleans what have pulled many couples apart. Do you have similar ideas about who should do the laundry, the food shopping, the cooking, the cleanup after dinner, and the general straightening up of the house? Who is supposed to take care of the trash, the yard, the snow shoveling? It’s easy to fall into stereotypical roles that neither person likes. Do you have shared standards for how clean is clean enough?
Partying. Are you in agreement about the use of alcohol and recreational drugs? Gambling may also fit into this category. How much, if any, is okay? When do you think someone has crossed the line and it is a problem? What will you do if that happens?
Conflict. How do you each handle conflict? Do you have the tools you need to negotiate differences? Do you avoid conflict? Blow up? Stomp off? How should your partner handle it when you are upset or angry?
Planning for the future. As heady as the present may be, if your relationship is to last, the two of you also need to be on the same page about where you think you are headed. Do you have similar goals? Are you mutually committed to those goals? Of course, goals may evolve and change but it’s important to have some idea of what you both hope for the future.
Don’t assume that of course you and your true love are in agreement just because you are in love. Once the wonderful haze of new love settles into daily loving, these are the issues that can become deal breakers. Better to talk about them before making a commitment than to find yourselves astonished, angry, and saddened by huge differences that can’t be resolved. Serious discussion now can prevent a painful breakup later. Even more important, conversations about these issues can help you get to know each other better and to lay down a united and strong foundation for your relationship.”
Are there any areas that Dr. Hartwell-Walker didn’t mention that you wished you had discussed before taking the plunge with your partner? Comment and let me know!
Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
Related Posts:
Knowing the Difference Between True Intimacy and the Fantasy Bond– The Snowball Effect
Great Expectations Within the Marriage- The Snowball Effect
10 Ways to Nurture Your Relationship– The Snowball Effect
So many things to work out!!
For sure. Happy Wednesday!
I am , at age 61 going through this process currently. This is a solid list and very helpful.
Trust after a failed marriage is difficult and impossible from a cognitive space for me. I had to let that desire to and be present.
This has let life unfold and trust grow without regard to past situations.
Money, kids, conflict and a biggie at my age, if someone happens to you or me are we going to be there for the other one?
Support, a true mate to share was my goal along with not making a choice using past parameters.
Funny but I did not want to make the same mistake in choosing a mate, so I had to kiss a lot of frog to find a trustful compatible mate, so far.
Nice article, deep subject.
Thank you, Marty. Yes, it is so important not to project our past experiences onto new people and situations. Doable, but not easy. I always enjoy reading your comments and insights. I hope that you have found that trustworthy compatible mate because they are out there.
This post has some truly great ideas to consider. Personally I think most of these things were discussed generally as my Hubby and I were getting to know each other, and mainly because I had experienced the fall out from not having these serious issues address and understood early on in previous relationships. And even in this case with my hubby and I communicating our beliefs on most things, they have been challenged and changed and we have had to dance on the spot until we landed on our feet. I don’t envy anyone staring from scratch nowadays. Relationships in this day & age are harder to fathom than ever with so many roles altering and so much challenge of perspectives. Thank you for sharing these tips. I will show my daughters so they can be prepared for future relationships. Blessings to you!
Blessings to you, too. I agree with you. My husband and I had to also “dance on the spot until we landed on our feet” as you wisely put it.
Really good stuff, Kristin. Thanks for sharing this. Be wel,l my friend. ~Paul
Thank you, Paul. I love the quotes you share with us and your blog, gyatoday.wordpress.com. Keep inspiring us!