Couples Should Live Together

Rhea Belgrave Ms. Pleming English 1302_ 5 6 November 2012 Couples Should Live Together before Getting Married In my mother’s house it was never discussed whether I should live with someone before I get married. In Trinidad and Tobago it is a normal for a man and a woman to live together and not have plans for marriage. With this being said, my mother does not want me to live together with my boyfriend until after I get married. I believe that this can sometime break up good relationships.

When couples don’t have to chance to live together while they are dating, it makes their first year of marriage more difficult than it needs to be. Couples tend to argue a lot, mostly because they are afraid and the possibility that have made a mistake by getting married. Living together before making your vows reassures couples of their lifelong commitment. I believe that couples should live together before getting married, so they can start to know each other on a closer view, more personal level; moreover, they can start thinking about the compatibility of their future spouse.

Couples start knowing each other on a closer, more personal level when they live together, which prepares them for a married lifestyle. For starters, you learn what your partner likes and dislikes, although this isn’t always easy. There is a lot to discover about your partner and from your partner; the only way to do this successfully is to move in together. For example, does he like broccoli, a special TV show or sleeping with the windows open? Maybe he likes to spend the whole weekend on the couch watching basketball!

Believe it or not, it’s little details like these that can often make or break a relationship. Second, you learn what kind of bad habits you and your partner have and whether or not you can get rid of them. For instance, I really don’t like it when people forgets to fill the ice trays, forgets to replace the empty toilet paper holder, or leaves the toilet seat up; I, on the other hand, tend to leave my clothes in a pile, all wrinkled, when they come out of the dryer.

Moreover, you can see how much fun you have with each other and realize how much you would miss by not getting married. Try to plan a vacation in advance, have a dinner date in town after work, or go to the movies on a Wednesday night when you know you have to get up for work the next morning. In other words, find out how romantic and imaginative your partner can be. Life can be tough and boring; it takes two creative and motivated people to keep a relationship alive.

I think that couples can make a wiser decision about the lifelong compatibility of their future spouse if they live together. To begin, you can learn if you or your partner is ready for marriage by seeing his or her reaction to the “m” word-marriage. You need to ask yourself if you are ready to have children with your partner, and if you are ready to stay with this person for the rest of your life through thick and thin. It is also beneficial to learn if you and your partner are both suited for monogamy; some people find it hard to be sexually faithful to one person.

In addition, you can see how your partner reacts to real-life situations. If something dramatic happens to one of you, like a car accident or a major illness, what is his reaction going to be and how will he behave differently in private or in public? Perhaps he is the type of guy who talks big, but can’t handle life’s difficult moments or be a good caretaker. Finally, living together you won’t have the pressure of a marriage certificate hanging over your head, especially when some people have a real phobia about that little piece of paper.

Living together means that the taxes are easier, you do not have expenses in case of a messy divorce, and you can make a lot of decisions before you enter into a relationship that is bad for your health, physically and emotionally. Being free of the pressures of marriage, you stand a better chance of knowing your partner as a real person. I do believe that couples should live together before they get married. Not only does it draw them closer but they are able to see one and other from and inside out prospective. This is the best advice that I can pass along to others.