6 Lessons Kids Can Teach You About Marriage

By Brie Schwartz, REBDOOK.

Virtually everything you need to know about relationships, you learned in nursery school: Treat people as you want to be treated, clean up after yourself, and don't be a know-it-all. Since my husband and I share a studio apartment, which, given its size, would be more fitting for two toddlers to cohabitate in, we've had to resort to the basic rules of communication and playing nice in order to survive. Luckily, we we're both exemplary students.

Related: 7 Ways You Know You Belong Together

1. Share your crayons
You might not be keen on giving up that perfect shade of burnt orange, but if you want to take any colors from his box, it's critical that you compromise--on the canvas of your relationship, that is. As you get older, sharing craft supplies morphs into giving your time, closet space, and energy.

2. Put your toys away

Also, your dirty socks, dishes, and anything you can trip over on the way to the bathroom. Not participating in cleanup could result in a well-justified temper tantrum. You'll quickly learn that life is easier if you just find the nearest hamper.

Related: The Top 10 Complaints from Unhappy Husbands

3. Say you're sorry
Though they sometimes have to be told they did something wrong, children are programmed to apologize upon discovering that they've hurt someone's feelings. As adults, we tend to be a little more stubborn. Follow your smart kids' lead and admit your occasional faults--without being prompted by your husband.

4. Don't talk to strangers
Or, when you're married, hot, single adults.

Related: 7 Signs Divorced Couples Say They Missed

5. Forgive and forget
Toddlers can be quite fickle. One second you're the peanut butter to your son's jelly, and the next, he's far more interested in poking at your iPad. So you take it away, he starts crying, and moments later, he's over it. We could learn a lot from that kind of resilience. Dwelling on the small stuff, like your spouse not texting you when he knew he was going to be working late, isn't healthy. You have to trust that he won't do it again and, like a big kid, move on.

6. Be honest
Children, much like drunk adults, are good at saying what's on their minds. Sometimes it's important to have a slight filter--if you know your husband put effort into dressing up for date night, tell him he looks handsome without pointing out that his slacks are saggy--but in general, be open and tell your spouse what you feel and need. Kids have no problem letting you know when they're dying for an ice pop. Spill it, even when your yearnings can't be sated with sweet treat.


More from REDBOOK
25 Reasons Why Married Sex Is Better

10 Things that Drive Men Completely Insane About Being Married
Foreplay Moves All Men Secretly Crave
20 Reasons Why We Wouldn't Trade Marriage for Dating in Our 20s