This month Ben and Heather spoke with Elisabeth Shaw, CEO of Relationships Australia NSW about one of the most difficult questions couples have to answer: Should I stay or should I go? Not only is the question fraught, it bears the weight of the many lives that will be impacted by the answer.
The following questions are answered:
•What are the signs that it is time to go?
•How much should consideration for the children affect the stay or go decision?
•How to confront your partner when unhappy with your relationship.
•What are the signs that the relationship could heal?
•Is it helpful to talk to your friends about the "stay or go" decision?
•At what point should you consider professional relationship counselling?Elisabeth also provided her thoughts on the following general scenarios:
•My partner and I get along on most day-to-day issues but we differ on some of the big questions like politics and climate change which causes huge arguments sometimes.
•Our problems started when the kids reached school age. We simply can't agree on how to raise our children but we can still have fun and laugh together.
•Things are good with my partner most of the time. But I'm just not sure they are good enough.
•My partner and I get on really well when it's just the two of us. But I can't stand to be around her friends and family. They make me uncomfortable.