It’s true that marriage is no picnic, but when approached correctly, it is a wonderful experience. So, what can you expect in your first year of marriage?
People are not shy about giving marriage advice. Whether they’ve married themselves or not, they’re all about what it’s going to be like and the struggles you’re going to face. For a newly engaged couple, it’s enough to put them off! It’s true that the first year of marriage is probably going to be an adjustment period but is it really that different from the relationship you’ve had with your partner so far?
You’ll either be told that your first year as newlyweds is going to be amazing or it’s going to be packed with challenges.
Why such polar opinions? It all comes down to perception. Sure, marriage is a big change, but life is not going to drastically change when you wake up on your first morning as a married couple. [Read: How to improve your marriage – Start here and see results tonight]
Truths about your first year of marriage
Marrying your best friend is one of the most fulfilling things you can do. Marriage is full of happiness, adventure, fun, and steamy sex.
So, why does everyone seem to have such horror stories about their first year of marriage? We’re looking at six truths about marriage you need to know about before you put a ring on it.
1. Marriage doesn’t change your relationship
One of the reasons many relationships snowball down the bunny hill after marriage is down to one word—change. Or should we say, the lack thereof? [Read: 16 questions to make talking about marriage really easy]
After getting married, some men think women become clean, caring, and domestic. Conversely, some women feel like men will become romantic, protective, and emotionally available. Even if none of these personality traits existed in the relationship prior to tying the knot!
Let’s get one thing perfectly clear: getting married doesn’t change your partner.
Any problems you had pre-marriage still exist after you get the marriage license. Even if your partner does mature and grows these qualities over time, it certainly isn’t going to happen on the honeymoon.
So when you decide to settle down with someone, you best be damn sure you like them exactly as they are. [Read: Why won’t he change? Your man says he will but he never does]
2. Marriage doesn’t mean the end of your sex life
Always remember these words – your sex life can only be what *you* make of it. In our experience, marriage is the opposite of sexless. Way, way opposite, especially in the first year of marriage.
Regular sex as a married couple is an absolute must, not only because orgasms are fantastic, but because it bonds you as a unit. *Um, and did we mention the orgasms?*
Differing factors affect your desire to get down and do the dirty with your mate after marriage. Pregnancy, children, financial stresses, living situations, and weight gain are all common reasons, but if something is a priority you’ll make time for it. [Read: 10 sexy ways to make married sex feel like a one night stand in no time]
Your first year of marriage should be full of wild sex. If that stops, it’s because you stopped making time to bond between the sheets a priority, not because you got married.
3. Money troubles are a thing
Money troubles are definitely not a rumor in the first year of marriage circles. If you haven’t lived together prior to getting married, merging your finances can be a bit awkward.
The key? Be completely open with one another about your financial situation before you march down the aisle.
Be clear about exactly how much each of you makes, as well as what your bills are going to cost. Decide beforehand whether you will share a bank account or if each will take care of their own share of bills.
Talking about money is icky, especially if you don’t make as much as your mate, but it doesn’t have to be awkward! Just be open and honest, always. [Read: How to talk about money with your partner without fighting about it]
4. Learn how to fight fair
As a married couple, you can’t storm out of the house after an argument and stomp your way home. You are home! That’s the thing about taking someone as your lawfully wedded partner—you live with them. Forever. Therefore, learning how to fight fair is going to save you a lot of grief in your marriage. [Read: 8 things to tell yourself when fighting with your lover]
Here’s some solid advice about clipping your claws in the first year of marriage:
1. Argue with the intention of solving your issues
2. Never go to bed angry [Read: How to calm down when you’re angry and regain your composure quickly]
3. Come to understand that most fights aren’t worth having
4. Never use the silent treatment
A relationship that doesn’t have disagreements is not a real relationship. Every couple argues, and for married couples airing out your issues can be therapeutic. You just need to make sure your conversation is a disagreement, not a fight.
The difference? Disagreements involve calm explanations of the problem at hand and sharing your feelings on the matter in a mutually respectful manner. An argument is just a 50/50 mix of yelling and being mean. [Read: Relationship fights and 27 dos and don’ts to remember]
5. You can still have alone time when you live with someone
One of the weirdest parts of being married is realizing you never have downtime from one another. Before marriage, you had hot sexual tension, long date nights, and endless hours of talking or texting on the phone. Then you headed home and played video games or waxed the hair on your lip that he ‘so doesn’t know about’ and do all that nerdy single stuff you’d never want your mate to see.
Now you live with them. How do you split up your time? Make this conversation a priority.
As important as it is to have regular date nights and sexy-time together, it’s equally as important that you still feel like you can have time to yourself while under the same roof. Make it super easy by scheduling your faux single-self activities on the same night. [Read: Time apart in a relationship – 15 reasons why you need it and how to do it right]
For example, he plays video games with the boys online in the bedroom while you have your girlfriends over for a movie night in the living room. Or, he has the boys over to watch the big game and you spend your night with a face mask on, plucking your brows, and scrolling through Pinterest until your fingers go numb.
Whatever suits your fancy, just make sure you have enough time to yourself so you still miss your mate and appreciate the time you spend together. [Read: How to give space in a relationship and not drift apart]
6. Living together and life goals
There are a thousand things you’re going to love about marrying your dream partner and living together. Sex whenever you want, snuggling in bed on a lazy Sunday morning, constant comfort and compliments, spending your mornings together, spider killer on hand, not to mention getting to hang out with your best friend every single day. Awesome, right?!
However, the smallest things seem to outshine all these great aspects of your first year of marriage. This is especially true if you haven’t lived with your mate until after your nuptials. Things like she doesn’t bring her dishes into the kitchen, he leaves his dirty socks on the floor next to the hamper, she wipes her makeup on everything, he’s cranky when he gets home from work, are going to drive you crazy. We mean, absolutely crazy. [Read: 6 common problems faced by couples who live together]
Remedy these cohabitating blues and other issues involved in the first year of marriage by talking about the following before you move in together:
1. Who will handle what chores?
2. Buy or rent?
3. Who’s going to pay for what?
4. Do we want children? [Read: 19 things you must do as a couple before having a baby]
5. How much sex per week is going to make both of us happy and satisfied?
6. Will we have pets?
7. How will we handle our alone time?
Hammering out these life goals before you enter into your first year of marriage is a smart thing to do and helps you avoid marriage bumps along the way.
[Read: 20 reasons to get married and live happily ever after]
Being married is pretty amazing once you know what you’re doing. We know if you remember our newlywed realities, you’ll be on your way to the best first year of marriage ever!
The post First Year of Marriage: The Surprising Truths No One Talks About is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.
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