FIVE THINGS ABOUT 14-YEAR ITCH

1

LOOKING HORRIBLE

Roughly 14 years in, what was once cute is suddenly not so — and often, the opposite. You might want to get dressed instead of wandering around in an old T-shirt and sweats. And now that you rely much less on input about your clothing choices, you can be confident enough to go with your partner’s preference. When you think you look pretty cool in your cropped white cowboy

boots and he thinks you look ridiculous, you can now go along to get along. And guess what — looking better goes for your sad bed, too. Year 14 is the time for a new one: your bed must not be allowed to go any further down the path of the uncomfortable, animals-children-laundry-to-be-sorted dump.

2 DUCKING BORING DUTY STUFF

There is more boring duty stuff and sometimes both of you will think: Do I Actually Have To? But the answer is yes, you do. Less supportive equals less lovable, it’s just that simple. That also goes for sorting out your own stuff, such as pension contributions or appointments.

3 BIGGING EACH OTHER UP

In the early years, showing off about your partner’s achievements and talents is nauseating. It sounds like couple-bragging. Past the 14-year mark, it sounds like appreciation and it’s much preferable to eye-rolling and making yawning gestures whenever the other one speaks.

4 SPONTANEOUS GESTURES

For at least 13 years of marriage, all big and medium decisions not agreed upon are seen as acts of treason. Now, the spontaneous plan is the marital vitamin B injection. Whisk us off for a surprise weekend … suddenly lovely. Note: independent purchases of large items? Still is, and always will be, a bad idea.

5 GOING AWAY ON YOUR OWN

Before the 14-year mark, you want to be on holiday with a group of friends or your family or both. Now you might decide to head off a deux, or even by yourself.