Marriage

My husband and I really haven't dated yet. We have only been out without the children only once or twice. I wish we had more time to date. And when we do it doesn't have to be expensive!!

Just last week, one of lifes little idiosyncrasies rose its ugly head, and I was forced to stop and think a while. I had just day been complaining to my long suffering mother about the fact I never seemed to have any time to myself without the children. Time to do those all important but non-essential tasks….shaving both legs, finishing the book you started 10 months ago, or buying feminine products without getting the third degree from an overly-curious 7 year old.

What happens when we commit to the “Happy Ever After” bit…only to discover that “ever after” actually meant “until we grow out of each other” or “until someone better comes along”? We find ourselves back in the dating game, older, wiser and usually carrying more baggage.

To most divorcing parents, telling their children is the one task they dread more than anything, fearing anger, confusion and a possible backlash of emotion in what is already a very emotive time. There is also the thought that how they break the news will affect their children in the long term.

Being a single parent is akin to doing two jobs at once, even if you do share custody with your ex. It is all too easy to drop off the social register and concentrate solely on life’s necessities – children and work. It is important to remember however, although you will always be a Parent first, being You should come a very close second!

My husband has always snored. When I met him, and he was in his 20´s, it wasn´t so bad. Well, at least I could sleep next to him wearing ear plugs and still get a decent nights rest. Fast forward almost 20 years, and things are very different. Call it “middle age spread” if you like, but having put on a few pounds over the years ( don´t we all), the noise is now akin to a pneumatic drill going off at regular intervals in the night.

Once the kids come along, it can be hard to find time for each other, but making your relationship work takes effort. The following key areas all need time and attention in a successful partnership. It isn´t easy, but you do reap the rewards!

I haven´t seen a lot of my partner in the past 17 years. I sometimes think that is how we have stayed married for the last 10 years, and are still on speaking terms! For most of our life together, we have been apart.

The first six weeks after a couple becomes parents are easily among the toughest times in a marriage. It is not uncommon to fight, sometimes even often and viciously. Here are tips to survive your marriage during the first six weeks after a baby arrives.

If you're fighting with your husband, wife or kids constantly over household chores, it's time to take control of the situation. You can have a cleaner house, and fewer fights, by establishing a fair division of duties between everyone in the family. Here are tips on dividing household chores fairly.