Fighting Fair with Your Significant Other

Dating, engagement, wedding planning, and being a newlywed are all exciting times of life. Although we like to think of them as blissfully happy – and they are for the most part – you still may have an argument or two pop up. Yikes! Oftentimes unfair fighting in a relationship can tear at its very fibers, so it’s best to have a plan for fighting fair. Avoid unfair fighting techniques, and have a plan of attack before one even starts.

Fighting Fair with Your Significant Other | How to Fight Fair | Hill City Bride Virginia Weddings

This is an updated repost of an article by Rachael Eberle.

Fighting Fair with Your Significant Other

Growing up, my parents enforced certain rules in our home. One which was that cake and ice cream do not comprise an acceptable dinner substitute. As a sugar fiend with a sweet tooth the size of Texas, I was indignant. How dare they infringe on my rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of chocolate?!? I counted down the years until I would be free to make my own dinner choices and could eat as many sweets as I pleased.

However, as I matured, I realized that my parents were not trying to be controlling, but rather they knew what was best for me. They created that rule because they did not want me to get sick and hurt my body. In fact, when I have children, I will establish similar rules.

How to Fight Fair Using Fight Rules | Hill City Bride Virginia Weddings

Knowing how to fight fair can help your relationship. Photo: Jasmine W Carter.

Just like families need rules to promote health, fairness, and overall well-being, so do marriages. During our engagement, my husband and I took part in an eight-week counseling course called Engaged. During this course, our leaders encouraged us to come up with non-negotiables and fight rules for our marriage so that we could avoid unfair fighting techniques.

How to Avoid Constant Fighting in a Relationship

Non-negotiables are things that my husband and I will always do (or will strive to do) or will never do (or will strive not to do). They encompass all aspects of marriage, from how we spend our money to how we spend our time.

Here are some of ours:

  • We will strive to ask the other person before making a purchase of $100 or more.
  • We will strive to have at least one date night each week. We will always have at least two date nights a month.
  • We will strive to avoid idols in our marriage, including children and jobs.

How to Fight Fair Using Fight Rules | Hill City Bride Virginia Weddings

Avoid unfair fighting techniques by talking about them ahead of time.

When you and your fiancé develop your non-negotiables, try to be as specific and practical as possible. Avoid using vague terms like “we will always love each other.” Even when your partner doesn’t fight fair, it’s important to remember the rules you’ve established.

How to Fight Fair Using Fight Rules

Fight rules apply to situations of tense discourse. When developing these, be honest with yourself about any bad habits you tend to slip into during arguments.

Also, ask your significant other if there is an area you need to work on. For instance, in the past, I resorted to a manipulative tactic often called the “silent treatment,” which meant I would emotionally shut down when I was upset. That’s definitely not an example of how to fight fair!

How to Fight Fair Using Fight Rules | Hill City Bride Virginia Weddings

Keep your marriage free from unfair fighting.

When we developed our fight rules, my then-fiancé gently expressed that he felt hurt and rejected when I did this, as if I did not care enough about our relationship to talk through our problems. A marriage doesn’t work well when your partner doesn’t fight fair. So we came up with the following fight rule.

 

We will not shut down or use the silent treatment during an argument.”

 

By identifying this bad habit and prohibiting it from our arguments, I have been able to avoid this pitfall and encourage healthy discussion during times of disagreement. Fighting fair is a good thing to establish from the beginning.

Once you and your fiancé have created your own non-negotiables and fight rules, make it a priority to review them every few months to keep yourselves in check. Some dear friends of mine had the brilliant idea to frame theirs and hang them in the hallway to serve as a constant reminder to avoid unfair fighting in a relationship.

Playing by these rules and fighting fair will help cultivate a healthy, balanced marriage. Now…where’s my chocolate?

How to Fight Fair Using Fight Rules | Hill City Bride Virginia Weddings

No one wants constant fighting in a relationship.

Are you fighting fair?

Even when your partner doesn’t fight fair, it’s important to avoid unfair fighting techniques. It may be hard, but having set rules in place will help avoid constant fighting in a relationship. Looking for more wedding advice? Just check here!

Jennifer 2023 Thumbnail

welcome

I'm Jennifer!

I inspire brides in

Virginia & beyond.

Glad you're here!

popular

posts

Sell Your Wedding Dress
Plum Diamond Engagement Rings Lab Grown
My Registry Wedding Registry

 

recent

advice

Hitchswitch Change Name After Married
Mens Wedding Bands
Azazie Wedding Dresses

 

recent

DIY

Honeyfund Wedding Registry
Miss to Mrs Wedding Subsrciption Box
Tribute Video Montage

 

recent

travel

Etsy Weddings
Beyond Yoga
Mens Wedding Rings Bands

 

recent

weddings

Capucine Engagement Ring
Kennedy Blue Bridesmaid Dresses
Ten Thousand Villages

(434) 851-2224 | jennifer@hillcitybride.com

Located in Lynchburg, Virginia