When people envision their married future, they have general ideas of a partner who will be there through the good and bad times. Few of them think in terms of creating a written plan to keep their marriage healthy, but writing down their expectations and goals might just help them find ways to make the necessary adjustments. Rather than working towards goals that do not quite meet, they can examine the future each envisions with an eye towards combining goals or modifying them so each gets what they want.
Not every detail in life needs to be planned, but an overall outline for the future can be a big help with general planning. A couple can agree they need to save money to buy a home, but each one might have a different amount in mind. They must agree on how much to spend as well as where they want to live. If they plan to buy a starter home first, they need to understand the conditions they have for selling it.
Children are often part of the life goals for people who get married, and it is important to agree on how many children and when to have them. Careers are now important for both people in a marriage, so it might take a good planning to decide when the time will be right. If children come along unexpectedly, knowing a partner is willing to give their complete support is important. Raising children successfully takes cooperation from both parents, so it is best to know the roles each partner will play.
There are always unexpected ups and downs in life, and the ability to plan for generalities is helpful when the specifics hit. Every family is urged to have an emergency plan in case of fire or a severe weather event, so creating a marriage plan for emergencies is just taking it one step further.
