Communication Within Your Marriage

Stacie Watts, MS, LMFT

When was the last time you sat down and had a real conversation with your spouse? Not about your jobs, the kids, or the house, but just about your relationship? Most of us will say it has been a while. For many, life has become so hectic the marital relationship has fallen to the side.

Too many couples get married, start their family and go through life without stopping from time to time to really ‘check in’ with their spouse. When you strip away the jobs, the house, the kids, etc. all you have is your spouse. But, too many times that is the one relationship that is taken for granted.

Many times the marital relationship is taken for granted because it is assumed our spouse will always be there for us. But, after many years of being ignored, the marriage will not thrive on it’s own. It takes both partners taking the time to sit down with each other and making a commitment to their marriage.

It is essential that we devote time to our marriage and to our spouse. Any relationship would suffer without communication, but a lack of communication in a marriage can lead to a breakdown in many different areas. Without healthy communication a marriage will start to show the affects.

A lack of communication often leads to a breakdown in intimacy, co-parenting, and emotional attentiveness to our spouse. Communication is a two way street and it takes both partners participating for it to be worthwhile and productive. Assuming your partner knew what you meant can be risky at best.

Take time this week to sit down with your spouse to ‘check in’ with each other. Pick a time, mark it on your calendar, and make it a priority. Do not allow other excuses to push this important time aside. Discuss what you are feeling, where you want to grow in your relationship, and what you want for the future of your marriage. You owe this time to yourself, your spouse, and to your marriage.

The secret to having a good marriage is to understand that marriage must be total, it must be permanent, and it must be equal.
Frank Pittman

The most important marriage skill is listening to your partner in a way that they can't possibly doubt that you love them.
Diane Sollee

Grow old along with me.  The best is yet to be - the last of life for
which the first was made.
Robert Browning

He who finds a wife finds what is good.
Proverbs 18:22

Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny
threads, which sew people together through the years.
Simone Signoret