Table Of ContentIntroduction How to Use This Book How to Discuss Your Differences Part 1 * Your Past 1 Growing Up in a Traditional Family 2 Growing Up with Divorced or Single Parents 3 Impact and Influences of Other Relationships 4 At School and Play 5 Character Construction Your Past: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 2 * Parents and In-Laws 6 Your Parents 7 Your In-Laws 8 Are We Our Parents? 9 Spending Time with Parents 10 One Big Happy Family Parents and In-Laws: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 3 * Significant Others 11 Relatives 12 Friends 13 Pets 14 Exes and Past Relationships 15 Baristas to Bosses Significant Others: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 4 * Children 16 How Many, if Any? 17 Reasons to Conceive 18 Raising a Baby 19 Financing a Family 20 Stepchildren and Guardianship 21 How Would You Respond? Children: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 5 * Dreams, Drive, and Dogma 22 Religion and Spirituality 23 Race and Culture 24 Politics 25 Careers 26 Seven Years Later 27 Your Future Dreams, Drive, and Dogma: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 6 * Daily Dos and Don''ts 28 Who Will Do What? 29 Daily Routine 30 Changes 31 Do You Mind? 32 Food Follies Daily Dos and Don''ts: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 7 * Leisure Time 33 R&R Ratios 34 Planning Your Getaway 35 Once You''re There 36 Are We Having Fun Yet? Leisure Time: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 8 * Finances 37 Saving and Spending Styles 38 Managing Your Money 39 The Ubiquitous Budget Worksheet 40 Money Honesty 41 When Times Get Tough 42 Debt: Liabilities and Responsibilities 43 Financial Checklist Finances: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 9 * Physical Intimacy 44 What, Where, and How Often? 45 Turned On, Turned Off 46 Let''s Get Really Physical 47 What Would You Do? 48 Honor and Trust Physical Intimacy: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 10 * Emotional Intimacy 49 The Real You 50 Showing How You Feel 51 Giving and Getting Love 52 Emotional Health Food 53 Emotional Junk Food Emotional Intimacy: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 11 * Special Situations 54 Marrying Someone in the Military 55 Marrying a Noncitizen 56 Marrying a Criminal 57 Marrying a Celebrity 58 Marrying Someone Significantly Older or Younger 59 Marrying Someone with a Disability Special Situations: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 12 * Your Wedding 60 The Big Day 61 Family, Friends, and Fiascos 62 Remarriage 63 To Have and to . . . Hold On! 64 Your Honeymoon Your Wedding: Thoughts on Your Answers Part 13 * Communication Styles 65 Personality Types 66 Virtual Voices 67 Don''t Speak 68 I Only Have "I"s For You 69 Killer Communication Part 14 * Marriage Builders or Breakers 70 The Secret to Staying Together 71 The Friendship Factor 72 "I Do," I Think 73 Reasons to Reconsider Marriage 74 Habits That Drive Couples Apart Epilogue: Final Thoughts Spousal Ten Commandments
SynopsisThe relationship expert from the Ladies' Home Journal , the Wall Street Journal , and Lifetime Television shows how to prevent marriage problems before they start There's nothing wrong with starter jobs and starter homes, but starter marriages? Relationship expert Monica Mendez Leahy is on a mission to help readers make their marriage last. Her 1,001 Questions to Ask Before You Get Married offers a reality check for couples on the marriage path, helping them realize how much they have yet to discover about their partner's nature, thought processes, lifestyle, and marital expectations. Engaged couples learn to discuss issues deeper than "chicken or fish" and to broach subjects that are often ignored before the nuptials yet essential for the foundation of an intimate, long-lasting relationship. Posed in a variety of fun formats, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and hypotheticals, these questions include topics such as: "Does your partner feel that you're too attached to your parents?" "Is there such a thing as innocent flirting?" "Is it OK to cheat on your taxes?" And more