What makes you you? I often talk with couples in which one or both parties feel like they just can't change. They expect the spouse or partner to just come to accept them as they are. I mean after all "maybe God just made me this way", they might say.
This is what comes to my mind as I watch Rob this week drowning and not even knowing it. Rob is wired for frugality. We've seen this manifest in a number of ways. There are multiple ways that we can look at this situation.
Option 1: Rob needs to realize that it isn't just about him. Frugality might be his modus operandi. But, now he has to consider how Celia wants THEIR money spent.
Option 2: Celia needs to understand that Rob is just being true to himself. She needs not to take his honeymoon thriftiness personally. Rather, it is just a reflection of what makes Rob, Rob.
Option 3: Rob needs to improve his ability to sense his new wife. He should be sniffing danger right now. And, he isn't. That's a problem. Celia, on the other hand, needs to share how she is feeling without losing it and putting their honeymoon in a hole.
Needless to say, I think Option 3 is the way to go. Two key relationship skills are at play that benefit all intimate relationships--the learned ability to sense your spouse's feelings/sentiments and the ability to share honestly yet being non-threatening.
I honestly believe that if these two relationship skills are consistently maintained then marriage would almost be a cinch.
If it isn't figured out the honeymoon won't be the only thing with the blues.
