Women Corner

Communication is the foundation to any successful relationship, whether it is between husband and wife or parent and child, but communication is a skill, which in some cases will need to be improved on and practiced in order to make it successful and so you should never just assume that you are communicating effectively.

Communicating well can also help you to spot common patterns in your relationship, which can help you to understand why things sometimes go wrong. Money worries, work pressures and childcare issues can all bring a lot of pressure to bear on a relationship, and by talking to each other you can understand how external and emotional pressures can affect your feelings and attitudes towards each other, so that you can work towards building a stronger relationship for the future. Don’t forget that men and women can have different ways of communicating, and that some people find it easier to talk about how they are feeling than others, so don’t pressure your partner into having a heart to heart if they are uncomfortable, and give them time and space to come to you when they feel ready to talk about their problems.

Every Day Communication
Communication does not just have to be about important issues either, but is a vital tool in getting to know someone and feeling valued and understood in a relationship. You should be both talking and listening to your partner, so if it is quite natural for you to tell them about your busy day, you must not forget to ask them how their day went as well, and listen to any problems or successes they may have had. Don’t just talk about mundane issues either, but remember to share your ambitions and dreams, even if they seem a little impractical and far away at the time. A close relationship should be filled with sharing, both in terms of day to day matters also hopes for the future, and by talking to each other you can understand what you both expect from life and how your relationship could be affected by this.

Effective Communication
It is difficult to talk and listen to someone with lots of distractions, so set aside some quiet time with your partner. You could go for a walk together in the evening, just the two of you, which will give you chance to be alone and concentrate on each others company, or you could simply settle down on the sofa when the kids have gone to bed and share some thoughts over a glass of wine. It is important to sit close and look at each other when you are talking, as then you can ensure you are both paying attention to what is being said, and turn the TV and radio off so that there are no distractions.