The Imperfect Mum’s Sisterhood- Top 15 Tips on how to stay Married/Together

Firstly I would like to start by thanking the beautiful sisterhood of  Imperfect Mum’s  for coming together to help me write this.  I myself have been with my husband since I was 16.  We have been together more years than we have been apart, a total of 19 years in fact.  We have shared many ups and downs but are very blessed to be still very much in love.

1. Talk, talk, talk, talk
Communication is an integral part of any good relationship.  Make sure you listen to your partner & don’t dismiss their thoughts/feeling/opinions just because you don’t share them Talking honestly and openly about all things including the “big” things and the “small.”

2. Go on dates
Schedule in date nights with just the two of you, Movies, Dinner if you can’t afford to “go out” cook dinner at home set the table up with candles and put some nice music on. Make sure you put that little bit of extra effort in by getting “dressed up”.

 3. Keep your own interests
Spending time apart is very healthy, keeping up with your own friendships hobbies, and sport.

4. Greet them with Love:
Try to always greet with a big smile and hello. This makes the other person to feel valued and appreciated. This also seems to set the scene for the rest of your time together.

5. Make each day a new one
Don’t drag up old “bad” stuff, there is nothing worse than bringing up the past, if you have already dealt with it – leave it there!

 6. Job Delegation
Work out what jobs each other is doing write it up and put it up in a common area ie the fridge. This takes out the ugly task of having to ask someone to do something which seems to be the trigger for many disagreements.  It’s simple that’s their job and they need to make sure it happens.

7. Don’t try to change
Don’t try to change or “fix” your partner you married them for a reason and that was because you loved them – Accept and Rejoice and love them for who they are.

8. Life doesn’t have to be serious:
Just because you married things need to be serious.  Have fun, laugh joke around. Be silly  together– laughter is the essence of any good relationship.

9. Don’t try to win every fight.
Sometimes you need to take the back sit and realise that it’s not imperative that you win every fight! – Even if you really think your right – who really cares and does it really matter? – as Dr Phil says “Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy”?

10. Put yourself in your partners shoes
Try to always think about how you would feel if you were in your partner’s position; always try to view the situation from their angle.

11. Don’t compare your marriage with someone else’s
What works for some doesn’t for others. Every marriage is a completely different combination.

12. Treat each other with Respect:
Respect is so important in any good relationship, treating and talking to each other respectfully is very important to keep your marriage healthy it’s also very good role modelling for your children.

13. Be Friends as well as a couple
Nurture your relationship as friends go on a coffee date and catch up without the kids.

14. Show the love
Show them that that you love them, unexpected cuddles and kisses them affection is so important it helps keep that spark!

15. Have a *Ahem* DIRTY Weekend away..
Book a night away –cocktails by the pool, dancing at a bar – reconnect as a couple… I will leave the rest up to your imagination… 

This was written in conjunction with myself and the beautiful Imperfect Mum's listed below:

Jodie Herbert, Tam McCallum, Bronwyn Davey, Emma Higgins, Debbie Stoppa, Amanda Clark,Shnannon Mcintosh, Annette McCullum, Debbie Korman Zlyden, Jamie Collison, Ashley Quass,Emma Higgins, Kelli Hones, Fiona Fuller,Jac Emery, Jess Jiggles, Clare Johnston, Rochelle Stokes, Fiona Purcell Gina Harrision, Jenny Bailey, Amanda Brownhill, Michelle Sims, Louise Ring, Aimee McCloskey, Clare Catt, Diane Knowles, Cindy  Anne,  Julie Pierce, Angela Davies, Lauren Ducksbury, Princess Abbz Horton, Linda Gibby, Chloe Davis,  Charmaine Kelly,  Kirri White, Linda Gibby, Easy Peasy Kids, Brooke Needham Brabon,  Diane Drysdale, Leigh Dall’Osto, Annalisa Tuoto Siefken Georga Whiting, Miranda Miller, Shelley Williams, Jeshni Chand and Kimberly Brann