5. What role do I expect my spouse to play in my life?
For better or worse, you’ll likely follow the behaviors you saw your parents demonstrate in marriage, and that includes gender-specific roles. To avoid any awkward conversations along the lines of — “Hey, I thought you were going to stay home once we had kids?” — discuss what family life was like for you growing up.
“Couples need to examine and share their family ‘scripts,’” Crowley said. “We are preprogrammed from our family of origin. We observe what a husband and wife look like from our upbringing with mom and dad. Being able to discuss what we learned — what we liked or didn’t — leads to more personal and familial security.”
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