Want a happy marriage? Commit to the Four F’s

It comes down to this. Being married isn’t easy. Even if you’re Claire and Heathcliff everyday isn’t like the one when they got dressed up and sang jazz medleys. It takes work, maneuvering, patience and a laugh or two. In my mind if you and your partner can commit to the 4 F’s – Finance, Faith, Fun and Fuggin’ (it’s phonetic) you might just make it.

When it comes to relationship advice everyone’s serving up something.  How to get a man, keep a man, please your lady, tease your lady, speak the five love languages, listen with your heart, screw like a man, smell like a woman. Yadda, yadda, yadda. I will try my best to not make this that. THIS is for young to middle-aged married, or might-as-well-be-married folks (common law that includes you), that can appreciate my limited insight. Take a joke and enjoy when keeping it real goes a little wrong.

Finance

No, it’s not ALL about the money, but let’s be honest, broke people aren’t particularly fun to be around. They’re bitter as shit! And bo-ring. Before marriage you should have your financial houses in order – his, hers, ours. If this is not possible you better get busy making up for lost time. As a friend once told me cash doesn’t fix every problem, but it sure makes getting through a rough patch a little more comfortable. Retail therapy saves marriages … and a shopping spree to the dollar store just doesn’t cut it. Would you rather bitch about your pushy in-laws or how many hours he’s working in a BMW or on a bus stop? Who wants to screw when there are bills due?

Before we can talk about spending money let’s take a minute to discuss making a little scratch. If you don’t have shit and they don’t have shit, guess what? You’ve got nowhere to go but up! Put your heads together and get creative. Work hard, go back to school, write a business plan – do something. Stop talking about it and do it! Put in the time and the effort and eventually things will turn around. *Single or “just dating” folks, if you’re reading this and you and yours fall into the “neither of us have shit” scenario head for the hills and cut your loses! Who needs that headache?!? Lol! I kid; I kid… #Ambition #MakeItInAmerica and all that hip hop jazz.

Now what if your marriage consists of one have, and one have-not? The key is equal contribution. Honey pays the bills? You better get your Betty Crocker on! Quick. In heels. If you are the have-not and a dude, two words. Keep Busy. Get Tim “The Toolman” Taylor on that ass! Fix something, volunteer, become a gym rat. Do ANYTHING that can demonstrate you are not a lazy bum. “I was down coaching the boys at the youth center.” “I’m working on this 6 pack baby.” “I was in Home Depot learning how to spackle some shit.” I mean, who can be mad at that? As for the more financially sound of the duo, give willingly and regularly. Don’t make your Mr. or Mrs. beg. Nobody wants to have to ask you for $20 every day. That sucks and then you look like a real jerk. Just drop the $100 and keep it moving. Don’t trust them with the bank card though… I’m just saying.

If you two are a pair of haves and you’ve got marital issues then it’s likely you’re failing in one of the remaining three F categories. Read on…

Faith

Sometimes you just have to trust that you made the right choice in picking your mate. Even when you hate them. Because usually it’s just in this instance that you want to strangle them. It’s not like this ALL the time. If enough moments pass you will most likely get over yourself and love them again. Most of you probably prayed this person into your life. Or begged, or stalked, or trapped… but I digress. Trust your instincts and have faith that things will work out. It might be blind faith, but it was blind love that got you into this marriage to begin with. You promised for better or worse, let’s just hope the best is yet to come.  At least sleep on it, have the strength to try again one more day… Boo to this being all serious, but it’s real. #KanyeShrug

Fun

Fun. Remember that? Think back really hard to before the kids came along. Having a good time together was once very important to you two. Is it still? Fun means for you to enjoy each others company, preferably out and about as a couple. Hopefully you share at least one pastime.  Don’t go on a movie date every damn time! I’m talking grown folks stuff like concerts, sports, clubs, outdoor adventures, etc.  Sometimes doing 19 year-old shit is fun too though. Get a hotel room. Smoke a joint in the car and then go dancing. I won’t tell. And if you’re so old and boring now that you don’t even know what you like to do anymore – find out together.

Surprise each other with stuff that your better half really enjoys.  Ladies, this may  push you out of your comfort zone. Be spontaneous and try to be genuine  convincing. If your honey is into something stupid like model trains, go to the Choo Choo convention once a year. You knew he was a lame when you married him, don’t be surprised by how much now! Go. Smile. Toot a horn while you’re there.

If  you need some tutoring appeal to your partners passion. If you want to know why everything stops on football Sunday, treat your Mr. to game tickets and he’ll be more than happy to teach you the basics (and brag on how fab you are for weeks). The key is to be a happy, engaged escort. Nobody wants to drag a sourpuss around while they’re having the time of their life.  That’s why your ass gets left at home all the time. Let him know that you’re having a good time doing something outside of your routine, even if it’s just for his sake.  Then take your turn and do you.

Fellas, be considerate and let your girl have a little fun! She will tell you what she wants to do indirectly in daily conversation.  “I heard such and such band was coming to town soon, so and so says this new restaurant is a must try.”  It’s not as hard as you guys make it. Take her to the theater, to a nice dinner, etc. but THEN appeal to her alter ego. Most women have a tiny part of themselves that wants to get either wild, silly or slightly hood with their man. Your job is to know which category she falls into and how to bring that out of your girl. Think back to when you first became exclusive. You were probably very intimate at that stage of your relationship. Recreate some of those good times.

Fuggin’ (it’s phonetic & I’m a lady)

If you’ve been married for a minute and you’re getting some action on the regular consider yourself lucky. I used to think it was a myth that marriage killed your sex life, but it can be true IF you’re not careful.  General consensus is that if you’re not pleasing your spouse in that special way they will find someone else who will. That is a risk you run, but more often the problem is not O.P.P. it’s Y.O.U. They’re not doing someone else, they’re doing ANYTHING else.  ESPN or their latest Nook download is more exciting than you. Sorry to break it to ya. They may even be jack (or jilling) off while you slumber by their side. Damn homie. So how do you get that old thing back?

Somewhere between making love and the all out nasty smash lies the “fugg.” It’s that specific type of coitus that’s the best of both worlds. The joy of having sexy time with someone you know intimately without it being routine and boring. Hot sweaty sex, sprinkled with a little love-making. Not every time needs to be about french kissing and candlelight. Romance goes a long way, but so does an ass smack! The secret to a great fugg session is to mix passion with porn. I’m no sex therapist, but my biggest tip is to switch it up. Try something new and don’t be embarrassed. Do it somewhere different, somehow different. Just Do It!