Relationship Advice on our 20th Wedding Anniversary

My husband and I have been married for 20 years today. We debated doing something special, like renewing our vows, but we decided that a night spent at home would suit us just fine. A nice meal with our daughter in our new Ohio home and maybe a dip in the Hot Tub. *See Below

We still enjoy spending time together and I still think he's funny and he still thinks I'm, well, funny, crazy, unstable, sexy, loud... I figured since we hit a milestone number it might be time to share some of our advice on how we have stayed married and resisted the urge to strangle each other for so long.

Linda's advice:

1. Respect, respect, respect
2. Low expectations 
3. Don't take yourself too seriously
4. Do not discuss anything important or emotional thru e-mail or text EVER
5. Do not call each other nasty names
6. If you have children have sex when you have the opportunity (even if you aren't in the mood)
7. Be honest, but never cruel
8. Support your partners dreams and aspirations
9. It is a bad idea to have BFF's of the opposite sex
10. Make time to be alone together 
11. Do not fight over the phone, if you are going to fight wait and do it in person
12. Don't persuade your partner to attend functions or do things they don't want to do. There is nothing worse than being with someone who is miserable, invite a friend instead. 
13. Trust, trust, trust
14. Lead by example - if you want to be healthy, get yourself healthy first, they will catch on. I quit smoking 3 years before my husband finally did.
15. Share the TV remote control and space on the DVR
16. Do not undermine your partners parenting in front of your children
17. Happiness comes from inside, your partner can't make you happy
18. Worries should be shared
19. Laugh, laugh, laugh
20. Say please, thank you and I love you every day. 

Todd's advice:

1. Yes dear, yes dear, yes dear
2. Don't learn to use the washing machine
3. Communicate frequently, but NEVER when you first wake up.
4. Support your partner in all their dreams and aspirations
5. Let the little things go...
6. It's okay to bite your lip sometimes...
7. Remind them that you love them at least once a day.
8. Don't always try to solve their problem.
9. Don't lie or hide things or yourself
10. Understand that to them a car is just a vehicle to get from A to B

We hope you find some of these helpful in your relationship. 

We would love to hear your advice for the next 20 years! 

All my best,

Linda

My lovely husband surprised me with an evening out in Cleveland. We had dinner at Lola, a Michael Symon restaurant I have been talking about since we moved to Ohio. We had a lovely meal even though the power went out at the restaurant just after our main course arrived!