#22 - Husband, Wife, Partner: What's The Difference?

On life's challenges our relationships come high on the list!  Marriage, possibly the apogee of all relationships,  is often referred to as the 'institution of'.  That sounds  very unromantic.  So taking a quick look at the Oxford Dictionary, for some definition or rationale,  I discover a mind-numbing 13 possibilities!  

The nearest, that makes any sense at all, applied to marriage, is the concept of 'establishing a foundation.'  Does that mean  rules, regulations and  expectations?

Nowadays you might not refer to your husband or wife, but to your 'partner.'  When did this begin? Again, it's the old 'three experts' nightmare so am not offering any links!

But in general it seemed to have begun about twenty-five years ago.  By then it was already much more accepted that you could not only co-habit with your best-beloved without drawing the disapproval of society upon you, but you could also co-habit with someone who was actually  the same sex as you. 

In both cases, you hadn't necessarily undergone any official or legal marriage ceremony, but you were in a serious, committed relationship. You were partners, you loved one another and so you were together.

There's solidarity in the words 'husband' and 'wife.' Possibly there's still certain expectations around these words, some of which are now out dated.  The role of a husband isn't necessarily to be the sole provider, nor is a wife's duty to stay at home and care for the children.     

These days, whether you refer to the most important person in your life as husband, wife or partner, is often a matter of semantics.  The foundation of your life together has to be love. 

Of course there are off moments!  But the thorns needn't prick for long. Love and laughter together will surely see you through.  Not just today or tomorrow.  Why not forever after?