Getting Married; are You Ready?
More often than not when a couple decides to get married; they are ready. However, are they really “ready”? It is true what they say; what you don’t know about something can in fact hurt you. And it is no surprise to anyone that marriage is one of the biggest commitments you will ever make in your life. Therefore, it is something that you need to take seriously. Each side of the marriage needs to throw the shyness and awkwardness out the window. They need to get down to the nitty-gritty and ask those hard questions.
Here are just a couple of things to consider before you say “I Do”
Differences: how does each side formulate an agreed-upon solution when there is a difference at stake? Is one-sided used to yelling and screaming while the other side is used to talking things out and resolving with a plan of action? This is a huge issue that needs to be addressed. There are many couples that find out once it is too late that conflict resolution is not the same for both sides. This is especially true once children are brought into the picture. A huge difference that couples embark upon is child-rearing.
Exes: are the past relationships allowed to continue into the future relationship? Think of it this way. If you are very good friends with your ex-boyfriend, is your husband going to appreciate you continuing to be very good friends once the vows are exchanged? Many people stay friends with their ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends and generally that is not an issue. However, when you drive marriage into the mix, it can change things a bit.
Religion: this is a biggie. If one person takes their religion very seriously and the other does not; this can cause a rift almost immediately. This is also a situation that needs to be addressed before children come into the picture. What religious affiliation will you want your children to grow up with? What is more important as to which side decides to leave one religion to explore the other? Often times religion is addressed during dating, but not all the time.
There are so many other issues that need to be addressed before vows are exchanged. These are only a few. It is okay to involve your family and your friends in the decision-making process if they know both sides well. But that is only recommended if both sides are involved. Do not go to your family or your friends on a one-sided notion to get advice. That in itself will not be received well by the other party. Remember this, ultimately marriage is forever. So make sure that you are undertaking this privilege with the right person under the right mentality. By doing that, you are almost guaranteed a lifetime of happiness.
Until next time.