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Money
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Money causes a source of tension and conflict for many couples.. Do not ignore financial troubles or disagreements. Discuss differences in attitudes about saving versus spending. Determine a realistic budget and set aside an emergency fund. Establish short-term and long-term financial goals and check-in regularly to discuss financial progress toward these goals.
Division of Labor
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Household responsibilities create conflict for many couples. Determining who takes out the trash and who picks up the children may lead to arguments and feelings of resentment and frustration. Write down a list of household chores and rank each task in order of importance. Discuss how often tasks such as vacuuming the house or mowing the lawn need to be completed. Create a schedule and determine who will take care of each responsibility.
Parenting
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Couples often engage in disagreements about parenting issues. Conflict about discipline techniques creates unpredictability and causes confusion for children. When parenting conflicts arise, talk to each other without the children present. Discuss concerns and the possible positive and negative outcomes of various discipline strategies. Focus on which approach best provides the child with an opportunity to learn new skills. Develop a comprehensive behavior management plan that outlines household rules and consequences.
Communication
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Miscommunication creates problems for many couples. Learning active listening skills decreases the chances of misunderstandings. Reflect back what the other person said to ensure her message was heard correctly. Establish rules about communication and anger. Avoid yelling and name calling during arguments. When disagreements start escalating, take a timeout to calm down. Refrain from using sarcasm and belittling comments. Couples who feel supported and respected experience increased satisfaction in the relationship.
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