Tips for better relationships
AUDIO VERSION
by Claire Halsey
Spend time alone together
Find a short time every day to share your thoughts and feelings about the
little things as well as the big news. Every week or so make a date to do
something you both enjoy. Arranging a babysitter or having a special meal at
home can keep the fun and romance going.
Make plans together for your family
You may enjoy organising an outing or holiday, sharing ideas about
birthday presents or organising family celebrations.
Share your hopes and dreams
You can bring ideas to life and feel closer this way.
Ask for what you want
You can't read each other's minds so be clear about what help you need
from each other.
Talk about your feelings
There may be times when one of you feels left out of family life - perhaps
you're at work and miss the big changes as your child walks and talks, or you
can't get to the school play or sports day. Talk this over, share how you feel
and work on ways to get more involved.
Talk about money
Make a realistic budget together.
Laugh together
Sharing a joke or a funny incident from your day can brighten everyone up.
As your family grows and life gets busier, you'll have less chance to
spend time together as a couple. When you do, conversations are likely to be
filled with practical details of who's doing what and when, and you'll have less
opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings.
Remember when you first met and spent hours exchanging stories and secrets? This
intimacy brought you together and is still needed to keep you close. Staying
interested in one another and sharing an emotional life can be important to your
enjoyment of each other as a couple.
Once a week, try looking at and listening to your partner as if you're meeting
for the first time. Notice all the things which attracted you in the first
place. Refreshing your relationship like this can be as important to your family
as all the effort you put into being parents.
How to be a good listener
This means more than just keeping quiet and not jumping in - though that can be
hard enough!
Pay attention to the person speaking. Take the time to hear them without
interrupting.
Watch out for all the non-verbal parts of a conversation. How a person looks
when they talk tells you a lot about their meaning. When you're not interested
in what the other person is saying you tend to look away or fidget. When you're
interested, you'll lean forward and smile more. Caring words don't seem genuine
when spoken with a frown or while walking away.
Make sure you understand by repeating back what your partner has said. For
example: "Do you mean you feel let down?" or "You sound excited about the visit
to your sister" This avoids misunderstanding and shows you've been listening
carefully.
Hold back and be slow to give advice
Often your partner simply wants to tell you their story.
Make the most of couple time
To bring you closer through talking, make a time away from the children
each week when you can avoid talking about family matters and focus on your
relationship.
Use feeling words
Talk about your emotions as well as events. Don't assume your partner
knows how you feel. Keep telling each other how much you care.
It's a good idea to discover more about each other, too. Take turns to ask these
simple questions - you may be surprised by some of the answers.
- What are your top ten favourite songs?
- What are your top ten favourite movies?
- What is your happiest childhood memory?
- Where was the best holiday we ever took together and why?
- If you could change one thing about where we live, what would it be and
why?
- What would be your idea of a great night out together?
- What is your dream for our future?
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