When you’re a family law attorney, you must work with couples who are struggling in their relationships and considering divorce. On the other hand, there’s also the opportunity to meet with working with couples who have happy and healthy relationships. This is often the case when it comes to couples looking to add to their families through adoption, for example.
To that end, we would like to share a few tips that should benefit couples as they build their marriage:
- Always think before you open your mouth: There are likely certain “hot button” issues in your relationship that are likely to trigger an argument. If you carefully weigh your words before you speak, you may avoid these issues or find ways to address them in a positive way.
- Do not give up: If the good in your relationship outweighs the bad, then it is likely a relationship for which you should fight. Every relationship is going to have rough patches, so you should never give up if the good times still outnumber the bad.
- Put time into your marriage: You probably put a lot of time into your hobbies and your work. You should put at least that much time into making your marriage work, as well. This means spending time together, having real conversations and engaging in conflict resolution whenever necessary.
- Have some separate interests: Although you should certainly focus on spending time together, it’s also important to maintain some separate interests. You don’t always need to be together — it’s actually healthy to have some activities or time with friends where you can enjoy time on your own.
- Treat your spouse well: When you spend so much time with someone, it’s easy to take that person for granted. Have you ever heard of the phrase, “familiarity breeds contempt?” This can be a real challenge for married couples. Make sure you continue to treat your spouse like the special person he or she is.
These are just a few tips to help you maintain a long and happy marriage. Of course, if you are dealing with domestic abuse or another serious issue, you may have no other choice than to move away from your relationship.
For further guidance on a variety of family law issues, speak with a Minnesota divorce attorney at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
