guidelines for a better marriage

Last reviewed 01/2018

• Know yourself - you will then know your partner better

• Continue courtship after marriage - romantic evenings, unexpected gifts especially flowers, personal activities like massaging and dancing and tell your partner 'I love you' regularly

• Share interests and goals - don't become too independent but develop mutual friends, interests and hobbies

• Make love, not war - learn about sex and reproduction and work at a good sexual relationship, exploring techniques without feeling shy or inhibited, use books and videos. Good grooming and a clean body help.

• Cherish your partner - be proud of each other, not competitive or ambitious at each other's expense. Talk kindly about your partner to others, don't put them down.

• Prepare for parenthood - plan your family wisely and learn about family planning, child bearing and rearing

• Seek proper help when problems arise - stress and depression can particularly damage a marriage and the children and should be recognised and treated by the GP

• Do as you would be done by - be aware of each other's feelings and be sensitive to each others' needs

ref: J Murtagh, General Practice 1e, 1994