All this week we’ve been talking about reducing the cholesterol in your marriage. Today’s tip: Deal with problems as they arise.
“Hi, I’m Ron, and I’m a natural conflict avoider.” Yes, I know this isn’t a 12-step group but if you’re like me you’d rather avoid conflict than deal with it. My research clearly shows that stepfamily couples who struggle are more likely to avoid their issues which just builds resentment. But healthy couples deal with problems as they arise by taking seriously the process of solving those problems together. All couples have conflict. The question is: is it managing you or are you managing it?