In some cases couples have the opportunity to plan and prepare – if a loved one is terminally ill for example, but even then they prefer to avoid the subject as it is so sombre. If your spouse is busy dying and you avoid the subject, remember the following:
Challenges in the Marriage
The conversation every couple must have . . . What do the experts say?
INTIEM magazine collaborator Elmari Mulder-Craig agrees that it is definitely necessary to talk to your spouse about death. “It doesn’t just create emotional intimacy, but also peace of mind. Death is a reality – regardless of your age.”
The conversation every couple must have . . .
You want to dream about kids, vacations and your home with your husband and the last thing you want to fret about is the possibility of death. But experts say it is one of the most important topics you need to tackle.

Are you co-dependent?
Does it feel as if you are wearing a mask? In reality you are unhappy, but you do not want to end your marriage and you know your husband is also unhappy. Does it feel as if that idiom – you can’t live with them, but can’t live without them – is applicable to you marriage? You are probably struggling with co-dependency.
Are you spouses or just roommates?
A good marriage is built on a foundation of friendship. And even though this is a crucial aspect of any relationship, what happens when you realise that you have become better roommates as opposed to husband and wife?
“I desire a child, but . . .” continued
If you currently find yourself in a situation as detailed in the first part of this article...
“I desire a child, but . . .”
When the desire to have a child of your own first takes hold, it can consume your every thought and eventually your life. However, what do you do when you and your spouse differ on this very critical issue?
Is the Grudge Monster consuming your happiness?
How do you know when a grudge is the reason for the emotional distance between you?
A new marriage with my kids and your kids-PART TWO
Referring back to part one, if the guidelines aren’t followed, parents may feel like they need to protect their children from their new partner or that sides have to be taken in the household.

A new marriage with my kids and your kids-PART ONE
Have you been given a new chance at happiness? Do you and you partner both have children from a previous marriage who now have to fit into a new picture?
The ups and downs of bipolar disorder & my marriage
Bipolar depression is nobody’s playmate. It’s a complex condition and, if not understood correctly, can destroy individuals and marriages.
How to help your bipolar spouse
Gerda Kriel, a Clinical Psychologist from Cape Town, explains that bipolar disorder is defined as a condition where the person suffers from depression and mania at discrete points of time. Gerda gives the following tips: