Sooner or later, every married couple fights. However, there are some conflicts that
are guaranteed to come up between spouses at some point in your relationship. In
our experience, the top 5 conflicts every married couple faces are incredibly
common and can cause a lot of tension in relationships when left unresolved.
Wondering what those common conflicts are? Let’s dive right in.
1. FINANCES
Money is one of the most common issues married couples fight about. Whether
you’re talking about spending styles, how much is in your savings account, how
much you should spend on vacations and holidays, or even how the two of you view
finances, money is a hot topic. However, it’s also a conversation many couples avoid
because it is so volatile.
2. INTIMACY
Sex is yet another common disagreement between spouses. Like money, it’s an
incredibly emotional topic and can leave both husband and wife feeling vulnerable
and upset. Differing intimacy needs, frequency of sex, and communicating
individual desires can all factor into conflicts centered around the bedroom.
3. CAREERS
Work is a hot-button issue in many marriages because it can create such an
imbalance in your life if you’re not vigilant. Creating a work-life balance that works
for your family is essential, otherwise it will be difficult to devote the time to your
marriage and your family that you’d like to. Couples sometimes fight about working
too much or too little, and about how each spouse will leverage their careers to
provide for the family and plan for the future.
4. KIDS
Parenting conflicts are tough to navigate. Spouses often disagree about how to
discipline their kids, what boundaries to set, and how to go about carving out time
for their marriage in the midst of busy child-rearing seasons (especially when small
children are still in the home). The beliefs, unspoken rules, and expectations we form
in our early family lives also impact our parenting as adults, and often factor into
parenting conflicts.
5. CHORES
Husbands and wives commonly disagree about household responsibilities. Fights
can stem from innate beliefs about how chores relate to traditional gender roles,
expectations from the homes we grew up in, and personal preferences regarding
roles in the home. When we marry and create our own new household, it’s up to us
to put our heads together and create something that’s truly our own. Unfortunately,
the process isn’t always smooth or straightforward.
HOW TO HANDLE COMMON MARITAL CONFLICTS
Learning how to both clearly communicate and effectively fight will help you tackle
seemingly insurmountable problems and break stalemates in your marriage.
Fighting with the person you love most is challenging. It’s critical that you both
learn how to fight in such a way that you can both express your frustrations and
expectations, so you can find a win-win resolution together.
(Provided by Les and Leslie Parrott)
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