This coming Sunday my husband and I will be married for 12 years. It hasn’t been easy and we have traveled through many places and things. No matter what though, it has been worth every second of the journey. We have loved together and grown together.
Tips I follow
- Not go to bed angry
- Remember to laugh together
- Make kid-free time for each other
- Marriage is 100/100 not 50/50
- Trust -have faith in him and you will lift him up
- Don’t bash
I asked friends and fellow bloggers to weigh in on their thoughts for a successful marriage. As you will see, some of them do not agree, and some of them are things that are not necessarily my view point in life. However, I feel I can learn and grow from any of them. Even things I don’t completely agree with get me thinking and make me realize what I do believe so I decided to include them all. No matter where you are in life, married, dating, single, relationship tips are a valuable tool to carry with you in life. Adapt them to where you are, tuck them away for the future, and learn and grow.
Successful Relationship Tips
- Great tips for any engaged or married couple ~ Barb (married 20 years) from A Life in Balance,
- Make time as a couple without the kids. Whether it is a rented movie on the couch after the kiddos are in bed or an actual date doesn’t matter, just some quality time is what counts. Bonus if you can get a babysitter and enjoy doing something you did pre-kids that reminds you of why you love each other in the first place. ~ Beth (married 14 years) from Life in the Bat Cave,
- Sometimes you may not be able to kiss each other good night – even when in the same house. Sometimes you may not have the energy to be anything but angry before you go to bed. Sometimes life will deal you blows that are not fair and you could never prepare for. Remember – these are the sometimes in your marriage that won’t last forever. Everything changes – even the bad times. Remember you will feel stronger again. You do love each other. ~Mary Ellen (married 21 years, 11 of which they have grieved the loss of their son) from James’s Project
- Realize and accept that two strong and different personalities will ultimately have some conflict. The key is to focus on resolving the issue, and not go on without communicating. The strength of a relationship is ultimately determined by how a couple deals with negative emotions; successful relationships focus on their ultimate goal-further connection and understanding. ~ Estelle (married 8 years) from Musings on Motherhood and Mid-Life
- ALWAYS kiss one another goodnight – and never ever go to bed angry. Learn to listen to one another even in difficult times. Communication, respect, trust and love are the foundation of every great marriage. ~Kelly (married 12.5 years)Â from Delco Deal Diva,
- Allow yourselves to grow, change and evolve – separately and together. ~Linda (married 12 years) from Giggles, Gobbles, and Gulps
- Overlook the little annoying habits and focus on what qualities caused you to fall in love in the first place. Make a choice to be in love every day. ~Jo-Lynne (married 18 years) Musings of a Housewife
- Support each other. We all do things that the other may not agree with. Respectfully disagree, but still support each other. Be each other’s rock:) ~ Lauryn (married 10 years) from The Vintage Mom
- Accept each other’s craziness – “eventually the stink will be overtaken by the beauty of your journey.” ~ Christine Meyer MD (married 17 years)
Today I am linking up with Barb from A life in Balance for Motivation Monday. I would love for you to share YOUR tips on what makes your relationship a success.
I love that 100/100 advice. If I don’t give 100% of myself, how can I expect my husband to do the same? We’re in this thing together, and for the long haul. We celebrate 6 years married this past Sunday, and 14 years since we met last week. We met when I was so young that even though we were dating it felt like we “grew up” together, and we have been best friends and family for nearly half of my life. I love reading posts like this to remind me about the love and romance, it’s easy to take for granted someone who is just always there. Thanks Heather, and Happy Anniversary!!!
Technically you did. 🙂 I actually have a post going up later this week that touches on growing up together. September it will be 14 years since Dave and I met. Thank you.
Wonderful post Heather! Congratulations and many more years of happiness to you!
Great tips Heather! Some of these are hard to forget in the moment. Thanks for the reminder!
I stink at remembering them in the moment. I am working on that. That and facing what I contribute that pulls it down. I am a big contributor to problems and sometimes the hardest thing to do is own that.
Some very good and practical advice!
Thank you for being part of it.
Thanks for including me in this excellent post. Great advice from people who know–happy 12 year anniversary!
Estelle
Thank you! Also, thank you for being part of it.
These are great tips. There are so many things that I wish people would of shared with me about being married and marriage. This Friday we will be celebrating 16 years and for that I truly am thankful!
Happy Anniversary! Married at 19 I had more advice than I possibly wanted at the time. 🙂 Most of it good though!
Love this! Just posted about our 12 years yesterday!
Happy Anniversary! I loved your post about silk, linen, and pearls.
ps….You look so beautiful as a bride!!!
Aw thank you.
Great post Heather!!! It’s always nice to have reminders on how it’s important to always work at your marriage!! My tip is deep breaths and love with all your heart! Don’t go tit for tat or harbor resentment. When a fight is over, it’s over!
So good, Sarah! “deep breaths and love with all your heart. When a fight is over, it’s over.” I love it!!
What a sweet post, Heather! Congrats on 12 years!!
Made me smile! Love to hear lots of married folks still trying
Isn’t it wonderful to see? I get so discouraged when it feels like every time I turn around another marriage is ending. Makes me so sad.
Thank you.
This is a great round up of articles. Thank you for sharing it – I’ll enjoy visiting and spending some time reading this week 🙂
(stopping by via Motivation Monday)
This is such a great post about marriage! Congratulations on your 12 years. I am an old wife with 23 years in and my advice is pray together and that marriage works best when it is 100/100. After all 50 % is half a job and 50% is a failing grade on most tests. I need a 100/100 relationship!
Thank you! I completely agree on praying together and 100/100.