It’s easy to be in love during candlelit romantic dinners or exciting date activities. But what about when things get a little bit rocky? Life isn’t always about fun activities and romantic moments. If you’re going to be in a relationship with someone, especially if this is someone you want to marry in the future, you need to know that you can overcome bumps in the road together. Over the course of your relationship stressful situations will arise. To know if you really have what it takes to make it for the long haul, make sure you really pay attention during these moments. Here are 7 relationship tests to pass before getting married.
1. The Road Trip Test
In theory, road trips sound like the perfect weekend date. Rom-coms romanticize it with a beautiful open road, some great music, and lots of amazing conversation to boost your bond. Except in reality, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Like getting lost, getting a flat tire, or arguing over the radio station. Not the most fun situations to get into, but awesome for your relationship! These bumps in the road will show you what the other person is like when everything doesn’t go according to plan. Are they moody and irritable or are they able to make the best of it? Plus all that time together and their real side is bound to come out much more than a dinner date.
Further Reading: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide for Couples – Without Fighting!
2. The Be Yourself test
Can you be 100% yourself with your significant other? Yes it’s important to compromise, let the little things go, and do things that interest your partner, but it is also very important not to have to hide any aspects of yourself. If you constantly find yourself worrying what your partner would think if you said something or if they were exposed to any of your annoying little habits (we all have them!) that’s a cause for concern. Try this test. Every time you find yourself censoring something you’d normally say or do, DON’T. Be entirely yourself. If your partner doesn’t like it or can’t handle it, the sooner you find that out the better.
3. The Crisis Situation Test
If this is someone that you’re looking to be with for the long haul, you’re going to want to know what they are like in a crisis. Sticky situations are going to come up in life and you need to know if this person can help you work through them or if they will freak out and flee. No need to invent a crisis, but if a situation comes up that you need help with, include your partner. You will get to know a lot about them and how they handle problems. Bonus points if it’s a really big emergency, hard to handle situation, or something less than pretty (like an illness).
4. The Family Test
You don’t really know someone until you’ve seen them around their family. Whether they are close to their relatives or ties are strained, a different side of your partner will come out when they are around their flesh and blood. People tend to have their guard down when they are around people who’ve known them their whole lives. If they are close to their family, you will get to see what your partner is like at their most comfortable. You may or may not like who that person is. If there is tension between them and their family, you’ll see how they handle situations like that. Do they turn into a big jerk and yell at their parents or do they keep their cool and maintain their manners? Plus you’ll find out if you even like their family and how you get along with them yourself.
5. The Do Something Boring Test
The beginning of a relationship is always so exciting. Things are so fresh and you are experiencing all these new situations with each other. Eventually the novelty will wear off and things will become a little bit stale. Of course you’ll work hard to maintain the excitement, but it is inevitable that there will be boring times. It’s important to make sure that your partner is someone you want to be in fun situations and in boring situations. There’s nothing better than knowing that you love being with this person even if you are participating in the most mundane activity, like laundry! Are you able to make the situation fun? Is the better just because that person is around? Are you able to sit there and not talk and yet still feel comfortable? Those are all factors you’ll need to keep the relationship fun and exciting down the line.
6. The Teamwork Test
If you marry someone, you are going to be building a life together. That is going to involve lots of teamwork. It’s important to know how you work together. Try a fun teamwork activity like kayaking and also try a frustrating task like putting together some shelves from Ikea with missing parts. Are you able to balance each other out well? Do you argue and place blame on each other or do you help boost each other? What if you disagree on the best way to complete the task, are you able to communicate and negotiate?
7. The Competition Test
Your boyfriend or girlfriend might be the sweetest person ever, but getting their competitive juices flowing might bring their claws out. Engage in some friendly competition with your significant other, place a bet or play a game. How do you both react in the midst of all the competition? Is your partner fun when they get competitive or do they make rude remarks at your expense? What if they lose, are they able to handle that?
What are some of your favorite relationship tests? What helped you learn the most about your partner and your compatibility together?
Farah Elzayn says
Great article! I can relate so much to the “Be yourself test”. When I first met my husband, it was for the first time in my life that I felt so comfortable being myself around someone without having to worry about being judged! That’s when I knew that I was with the right person!
happilyeveradventures says
Thank you Farah! So happy to hear you liked the article! And love the story about how you knew when your husband was the one for you. It’s such an amazing feeling to find that person who you can fully be yourself with! We wish you both many happy years together!