Approaching the Fist Year

Sunday is our first anniversary. We made it! The things we learned this year:

1. Establish day-to-day duties from the beginning: He takes out the trash, I go to the store, he does the dishes, I do the laundry. We hired a maid, for our own sanity.

2. Family is important. Spending time with them helps you remember who you are and where your values are as a couple. Don't underestimate the power of family.

3. Alone time is great! Taking the opportunity to get out of town together, go to an impromptu movie, or go out to dinner are great opportunities to strengthen the relationship. Carpe Diem.

4. Career is important at this stage in our lives and sometimes we have to make concessions both with time and household duties to ensure that each person is able to reach their professional potential.

5. If one of you gets sick, the house looks like a bomb went off. You're both part of a well - oiled machine.

6. Establishing your own traditions is important, it separates you as a couple from the other parts of your family and helps carve out a special identity for you as a couple.

7. Remember to talk to each other for at least 15 minutes a day, you learn something new about each other daily. Appreciate that.

8. Sometimes you have to shut up and be supportive.

9. Be flexible. Learn to juggle, and embrace your opportunities to be alone as an individual. I really enjoy having the house to myself when he's out with the guys or attending a work function.This also means that occasionally, you may have to take on their household duties.

10. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Your spouse is not a mind reader if there is something that you want, need, or question, speak up.