15 Old Married Couples Give Brutally Honest Love Advice

Relationships require effort to work. Here are some brutally honest pieces of advice from old married couples that will help you stand the test of time:

“On getting married: remember that they are the same person after the new labels. I’ve seen it all fall apart because the boyfriend’s cute little habits were not something a husband should do. ‘We are married now! You can’t do that!!’ It’s easy to get lost in labels (because wife and husband are long-defined terms). But if your girlfriend sucked at dishes, news flash, your wife will too.” — just_abbey

“No ‘rolodex.’ You may not file away past hurts and injustices in a mental rolodex to use as ammunition in future arguments. The time to deal with the hurt is now, when it can be made right.” — 500Hats

“After work, give your spouse some time to unwind. Timing is important. Relating the gory details of what junior did in the bathroom or the latest financial crisis can wait until after dinner.” — Maxwyfe

“Don’t fight in the car! No one likes to feel trapped.” — Maxwyfe

“Speaking of the car – your spouse is a grown adult with a driver’s license. You don’t have to tell them how to drive or point out stop signs, yellow lights or merging traffic. I have a friend who shouts these warnings at her husband and it makes everyone in the car a nervous wreck!” — Maxwyfe

“Playfully teasing your spouse/partner in front of friends seems like a good way to passively point out his/her flaws while livening the conversation with some humor. Do not be fooled. This is a bad idea.” — usetherod

“Don’t hold in [bullshit issue goes here], your partner actually can’t read your mind.” —moosepile

“Make sure that you are willing to fulfill each others needs/desires, because for most people, your spouse will be the only person you’ll be banging for the rest of your life.” — smootie

“Most of the time you spend together is going to be non-sexual, so you better be best friends, or it won’t last.” — BOS_to_HNL

“While your SO should be your best friend, both sides still need ‘them’ time. Don’t be offended when your partner just needs to get away and enjoy a night with friends.” — FigGnuton

“When making decisions and compromises, big or small, make sure what the two of you decide on is something you can live with. Because you’re going to have to live with it.” — 500Hats

“Fight fair – no name calling, no condescension, no cussing.” — 500Hats

“Kids are great additions to a stable, healthy relationship and a misery accelerator to an unstable, unhealthy relationship. If you find yourself thinking having kids is a solution to a problem, you’re going to have a bad time.” — Nadnerb98

“My advice can be summed up in two words: Don’t lie. Almost every major problem within relationships start with a lie. If your relationship can handle the truth, then it can handle anything.” — Shelbycub

“Build them up – be their biggest fan. Remind them daily that they are important, that they are loved.” — forever-unclean