People & Relationships

How to Make Your Marriage Last

By Sheri & Bob Stritof, About.com Guides

Every marriage needs help now and then, both during the good times and when things become difficult. Here are issues that impact marriages and skills to help you deal with those issues and problems in healthy ways. Remember that most problems have solutions. Don't ignore the problems and issues in your marriage. If your marriage is in trouble, get started and make the necessary changes together that will help your marriage be a successful, long lasting union.

Create a Long Lasting Marriage
Increase Your Communication Skills
Repair and Save Your Marriage
Interracial and Interfaith Marriages

In-Law Basics
Grow Old Together
Confront Problems in Your Marriage

Create a Long Lasting Marriage

What helps keep your marriage successful and long-lasting? Long lasting marriages have characteristics and qualities that enable the couples to weather through both the good times and the bad times as they journey together on the highway of life. It helps to have a flexible attitude towards your marriage, a willingness to create a balance in the time you spend together and apart, and an openness to change.

Increase Your Communication Skills

To have a successful marriage you must learn how to communicate effectively with one another. This includes listening both with your head and with your heart.

Repair and Save Your Marriage

If your marriage is in trouble, don't throw in the towel too quickly. Here are ways to repair and save your marriage.

Interracial and Interfaith Marriages

If you are in an interfaith, interracial, or intercultural marriage, the two of you have a few more challenges to face than couples of the same faith, race, or culture. Your differences in these marriages may create problems, but usually these problems can be lessened by being honest with one another about the issues.

In-Law Basics

Your in-laws can be a tremendous source of support and closeness for the two of you and they can also be a major problem in your marriage relationship. Here are some tips to help you bond with and cope with your in-laws.

Grow Old Together

Being an empty nest couple is the beginning of a whole new marriage experience. Now you have the time to be alone together and do things you want to do, but health issues may surface. It is natural to worry when you see that your spouse isn't feeling well or has obvious medical problems. Here are tips to help when it is just the two of you again.

Confront Problems in Your Marriage

Photo: S. Meltzer / Getty Images, PhotoLink

Do you recognize red flags and warning signs of problems in your marriage? Do you let issues like finances and household chores create a wedge between you and your spouse? You must confront problems in your marriage and not hide your heads in the sand.

Marriage