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5 Questions for Young Couples
While walking on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. last week, I noticed a couple engaged in a lengthy embrace and passionate kiss. I smiled as I thought about how in love they seemed. My initial impression changed when I realized that the woman was crying and the man was hesitantly walking away from her, not looking back. What initially I thought was an expression of connection was actually separation. This couple was breaking up.
As I continued on my walk, I pondered the differences between couples who stay together and those who break up. I have observed in my clinical work that couples who communicate effectively with each other seem to have a greater chance of resolving difficulties and staying together. Couples sometimes tell me that they recognize the need to improve their communication, but they don’t know what they should be talking about or how to go about it.
As a result, I have decided to write a three-part series for couples who would like to improve their communication. This is the first article in the series, which addresses communication in young couples who are going through the quarter-life phase of life. The second article addresses couples who are approaching retirement, and the third article looks at couples coping with Alzheimer’s disease.
Quarter-life Couples:
Often couples in their 20’s and 30’s are busy planning their future and making choices about marriage, children, career, graduate school, owning a home, and financial security. The following are five topics that young, quarter-life couples should be talking about:
1) What are your feelings, thoughts, and beliefs about marriage, monogamy, and childrearing? If you want to have children, how many would you like to have? Would you like to adopt children? What needs to happen in order for you to feel ready to take these steps?
2) What are your feelings, thoughts, and values related to career and finances? How much income do you want to have as an individual and as a couple? What are your beliefs about saving, spending, philanthropy, and investments?
3) What are your religious and spiritual beliefs? Would you like your partner to share your beliefs? What are your expectations for involvement with a community of worship (i.e. church, mosque, synagogue, etc.)?
4) How much involvement with in-laws, extended family, and friends would you like to have? What are your expectations? How frequently would you like to talk to, visit, or receive visits from your friends and families?
5) Where would you like to live? Do you see yourself settling down in one place or moving around? Are there certain places you would not want to live? Do you prefer a rural, urban or suburban setting?
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Click the link below to download PDF of Christine’s article.
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