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Unexpected expectations
5wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock"We had been married for a couple months when my husband came to me saying he had something he needed to tell me. Hesitating, he blurted out, 'I'm addicted to ... pound cake.' It seems his mother had been touted 'Queen of Pound Cake,' and as his wife, this task now appeared to have fallen to me. Right then and there, I realized that there were going to be a lot of things in our marriage that I would be expected to know and do." -Carol G.
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Daddy issues
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It's not 50-50.
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Quality time
8George Rudy/Shutterstock"[I wish I'd known] how crucial six-month check-ins (vacation weekends every six months to get and stay on the same page as a couple) and taking 15 minutes a day to connect through talking and spending time together [are]." -John D.
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The roles of marriage
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Compromise is key
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Love vs. compatibility
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Opening up
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Honest communication
13Jacob Lund/Shutterstock"Everyone thinks that if you truly love someone, marriage should be easy. It’s not. Melding two people into one has its bumps and wrinkles. You need to be completely honest. Example: most people don’t discuss their views on discipline of children. This was the hardest thing for me and hubby to agree on in the beginning. But we talked through every aspect of it. We worked together to come up with a game plan we both agreed on." -Kandi M.
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Be wary of jealousy
14Jenaphotography/Shutterstock"If they are jealous of your accomplishments in the early stages of your relationship, they have insecurities about their own accomplishments, which often results in their continually squashing your dreams or goals. You want a supportive partner in all aspects of your life together." -Susan M.
More from CafeMom: 5 Reasons Marriage Engagements Should Be Longer Than One Year
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Having your own space
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