“… And they lived happily ever after.”

We all know that life is not a fairy tale. But, let’s admit it – somewhere in the subconscious of each of us there are hidden romantic visions involving Cinderella, or maybe Julia Roberts. Images may be vague too, but among them we can distinguish the bride and Prince Charming’s silhouettes riding off together on a white horse.

In real life, your story is not like a Disney fairy-tale, but it looks more like one inspired from Wes Craven’s horror movies.

We’ve all been through this. Let’s face it, marriage is not for the faint-hearted. We love to believe the pure love we share will make us go forward. Yes, it is true. But not all the things we face in marriage are so enjoyable.

This might sound terrible. But here’s the secret: sometimes it’s the less romantic parts of a marriage that can teach you the most about you, your partner and the nature of love between you.

Here are some simple truths that open your eyes and show you that your marriage is imperfect and completely different from the fairy tales.

15. Forgetting it takes two to tango

In fact, they forget that at the beginning of your relationship, long before your marriage, you were both novice tango dancers, unsure of what steps to take to make it work. It turned out that you have become professional dancers, as the steps you made led you to a happy marriage. But the dance never stops. Or, at least it shouldn’t.

As time passes by, women tend to forget the essential aspects of the dance: intrigue, romance and integrity of the tango. They are so overwhelmed with the everyday tasks that they even forget you ever danced together.

It’s time for you to interfere, men, and show them what good dancers they are! Remind them that the more they learn the dance, the greater the intensity and the feeling they have within the relationship!

14. Attempting to change their husbands

This might happen even before marriage, but it will surely happen after!

Women have this tendency to bring changes to their men. It is something that men don’t really understand. Why should they change? The women they love have fallen in love with them for different reasons, and everything was fine before marriage – or at least, this is what they thought!

Women have always dreamed of the perfect husband – and even if you’ve gotten married, it does not mean that you are perfect – no! It simply means that you were the closest to perfection and to her dreams! But you still need some adjustments to be perfect!

Bad mistake, women! Would you change for somebody? I’m sure you wouldn’t. Then, why would you attempt to change your men?

Women, please try to understand that opposites do attract and accept your men as they are! You won’t find better ones, that’s for sure!

13. Changing their sexual habits

Married couples become experts in the art of fast-paced sex. Sometimes, for good reasons. The fatigue accumulated over the day, the busy schedule and especially the presence of children, give them less time for a roll in the hay.

Thus, many married couples fall into a routine and sex does not create as much pleasure as before. It is not as it used to be at the very beginning when women were looking forward to meeting their male partner and falling into their arms.

After marriage, women seem to have forgotten all the hot moments you spent together, as there are other things they have to focus on.

You, men, have to do something about it, before it is too late. Turn off the TV, lock the bedroom door and give your partner all the attention! Show your partner that even a hook at 4 in the morning guarantees hot moments! She really needs to be reminded!

12. Allowing themselves to get fat

Be serious and stop finding excuses for having put on weight!

Marriage doesn’t mean that your life is over and you don’t have to be beautiful and attractive anymore. In fact, for the relationship with your husband to be perfect, you both need some attraction!

It is a proven fact that people get fat soon enough after they get married, obviously women being the first to put on the extra pounds. What is even more interesting is that after marrying, most women do not give a damn about their physical appearance, and they are really excited that they don’t need to work out or to restrain from their favorite desserts because they think that they’ve got their partner locked in because “they aren’t on the market anymore.”

You are completely wrong, as the first thing that men appreciate, even when they change their social status from a boyfriend to husband, is still your physical appearance.

11. Spending a lot of money

Come on! It should not be a problem as everybody knows about women’s addiction to spending money. But it seems to annoy their husbands, who in general have a higher income.

We often hear men saying that their wives spend all their revenue, but it has been psychologically proven that what they really mean is that they would like women not to depend so much on them, financially speaking.

What is surprising is the fact that men wouldn’t complain that much about it and it would be easier for them to accept the situation if women were grateful towards them and would say “thank you!” at least once in a while.

10. Showing off exaggerated jealousy

First of all, let’s make it very clear: everyone is jealous.

Women know it, even if they don’t show it off every single day of your life. Even those who will tell you that they are not will always be a little bit jealous if you start paying attention to another woman. Men should ask some questions if your wives show no jealousy at all.

But too much jealousy is also dangerous as it suffocates men. Possessiveness is one of the worst scourges of the couple, and although you wouldn’t say that women become more jealous after having gotten married, they do!

9. Speaking a lot about their past

Some women are convinced that they must absolutely reveal all their previous love stories – so as not to be considered a liar and accused of having hidden something from you. Just as in movies, women are capable of spending whole nights talking about the past and about their previous partners.

Unfortunately, this is just a wrong idea – although most women don’t see things like this. They simply can’t understand that this is going to make their partner jealous – most of the time for no grounded reason.

Women have the tendency to speak a lot about their previous partners, especially after an argument with you, when they feel misunderstood and not loved anymore.

Guys, try to avoid this trap, as it will only lead to competition, an unfair competition, as you only know your competitor from her own perspective.

I’m sure you’ll see him differently once you meet him!

8. Forgetting about the mirror

This is a common mistake married women make. Most of them and a lot!

Their argument is that, once married, they’ve got a lot on their minds, both as wives and as mothers. In addition, as they are already married, and there must have been something which attracted you to them, therefore they shouldn’t be concerned about their looks.

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

All this shocks men, as they no longer recognize the women they fell in love with, many not so long ago!

Women, remember that men don’t appreciate you being careless and want to be with a beautiful and elegant woman. They feel proud whenever they see a small change – maybe a new haircut or different make-up.

You women will also feel better – as any change brings something new in your life!

7. Making trouble and shouting

You see your beautiful princess transforming into the old wicked witch as days and years pass by. And there is nothing you can do about it, as you don’t really understand the reasons for all these troubles.

Most women create drama just to put their men to the test, as they are attention-seekers in need for reassurance and affirmation.

Thus, whenever they feel less cared for and protected, they create drama and exploit your emotional strengths and weaknesses.

Therefore, maybe it is time for you men to interfere and to demonstrate, once again, that you are by their side no matter what and that you’ve got enough patience, courage, passion, and will to handle your queen’s drama!

Hey, drama queens, a broken nail is not a good reason to cry!

6. Complaining about almost everything

A lot of women complain about almost everything – almost all the time. There isn’t anything that can satisfy them!

Before marriage you used to be the perfect man, the best on the planet, the husband she has always dreamed of! But, suddenly after your marriage, she starts complaining about every step that you make: you cook – congratulations, but she can’t appreciate it, she complains that the kitchen looks a war zone; you played football with the kids – she complains that you spend too much time with them instead of trying to fix something in the house; if you try to fix something in the house she blames you for not finding time to spend with the family. I’m sure at least some of you are already familiar with this scenario.

And you men can’t be blamed if sometimes you get sick and tired of it!

5. Never stops talking

You wife often ignores what you’re saying – or trying to say, but she wants you to pay attention to every detail she talks to you about. But you can’t, as she gets angry if you don’t listen to her carefully. She simply can’t understand that, at a point, you get lost in details, and you simply refuse to listen to her.

She has always been like this, and I am sure that you have hoped she would change in time, especially after marriage. On the contrary, it’s even worse, especially after the birth of you first child. She wants to inform you about every step in your child’s development – which is not bad, but not good either – as you can see the development yourself, too, even if you spend less time with the child.

She usually forgets that words are sometimes useless to express things: actions and facts speak for themselves!

4. Becoming much more sensitive

It happens especially after giving birth to children. Scientifically and medically speaking, it is a matter of hormones and you hope that it will pass quickly, but meanwhile you are trapped in her feelings and you can’t understand why she’s always crying.

You, men, get even more confused when you see your wives crying even when good things happen – for instance when the child takes his/her first steps or when the child says Mum or Dad for the first time. They simply cry over anything.

Your task as men is not easy at all, as you have to deal with what is happening. It’s up to you to try and solve the problem – if any – comfort them and ease their emotional feelings. Otherwise, you’ll be seen as an insensitive creature!

3. Not supporting you

In order not to be confusing, obviously some nasty ideas or actions cannot be supported. For the rest, support is essential in a couple. Nothing new!

Women share a lot while in a couple and after the marriage – but there are moments when they care more about their friends or their neighbors than about what you really want or dream about.

I am talking here about choices you make in life – whether you want to change your job or your home. Particularly this fact of changing jobs scares women a lot, as they know that it implies a financial issue – hopefully in the short term. This is why they completely disagree with you every time you try to talk about.

Obviously, they are wrong, and are not aware of the fact that it could also jeopardize your family life in the long run.

2. Acting like a mother

It is not bad in itself, as most men still feel the need to be treated like kids. It’s also very true that men love it when their wives treat them like they were Mummy’s little prince.

Women tend to forget that you didn’t want to marry you mother; you don’t need to hear “do this and don’t do that” all day long.

But men, it can also be your fault if you’re treated like this: it may have happened because you haven’t proven to be mature enough to depend on yourself – the dream of every woman when she gets married – and that’s why they feel responsible for you. I know that you feel that you’re controlled but women do this, in fact, out of a strong motherly sentiment.

1. Hesitating

When you get married, you think that you made the right choice – the soul mate who will make you happy until death tears you apart. Then you wake up one morning and you realize that he isn’t as great as you thought and that he is not the person who will make you happy every moment of every day.

You suddenly understand the saying “love is blind”! In fact, on some days you will even wonder why you rushed so much to get married.

The power of your relationship is actually put to the test day by day when the terrible monotony of cohabitation can make you want to go in to the wide world. Then you feel disappointed, lonely and you are suffering. But it’s not his fault. It’s all about you, about the fact that you gave up the fantasies you had before marriage that were making your eyes shine with joy the day you had the photo shoot for the wedding album.

It’s the moment you realize that marriage is not a destination; it is a journey full of exaltation and boredom, and it’s up to you to find the balance in-between.

Sources: thoughtcatalog.com