what is 1 thing you learned about relationships you didnt know when you were younger? (married, woman)

[BabyBoomers2]

Years ago when I was single, I use to think "love" and "sex" went together. I was so lonely and longing for a relationship (and even marriage) I would mix "love" and "sex" together. After I would sleep with a woman (and not knowing her very long), I would automatically think I was falling in love with her......very, very wrong thing to do!! I tried to teach myself not to act so DESPERATE for a relationship, but........I was married once, liked it, but definitely married the wrong girl (she met someone else and we got divorced).
Other thing I learned was to meet a lady that I had things in common with! But, not only did I sometimes try to change a lady, but I met ladies that wanted to change me! One lady didn't like me wearing a baseball cap. Another lady sure looked good in Western clothes/boots/hat, but only liked to dance......I was a weekend rodeo cowboy. We tried to change each other and that sure didn't work!
Then, FINALLY in 2000 I met my (now) wife! She loved Western clothes and rodeo, plus many other things that I liked! In fact, we BOTH wore baseball caps at times.
So, in my younger years, it was all about trying to get "love" into "sex" and changing a women. Today, I have as close to "Mrs. Right" as I would ever, ever get!!

[PurpleLove08]

They take a lot of work.

[he's so hott]

You said it in the title. AGE. You will learn as you get older that what you want out of a relationship in your early and mid 20s is different than what you want when you're in your late 20s. When you're in your late 20s and really your very early 30s you start to develop a better understanding of yourself and what works for you. Once you understand yourself you'll be more successful in having good relationships. It is a lesson I didn't realize I had learned until I was 29 and a half.

[Puru]

It took me a while to learn that sometimes guys really are pretty straight-forward and not all of them beat around the bush and assume you know how they feel.

I also learned eventually that not every guy just wants to get in your pants, they just want a genuine relationship. Of course there are guys who only want to get in your pants as well.

[Kenneth70]

I've gone from idealism in late teens to disillusionment in my late thirties. I used to overlook the bad qualities in girls; now I overlook the good qualities in them. I used to have criteria for what I wanted in a partner; it has become what I don't want in a partner. This attitude could keep me single for the rest of my life.

[Sprawling_Homeowner]

That the niceness/fairness people ostensibly want from the person they are involved with... they rarely ever give it themselves.

[Twinkle Toes]

That you don't HAVE to get married.

[UrbanBlasphemy]

I've learned that relationships aren't easy...

They take a lot of patience, good communication, and a willingness to completely be part of someone else's life. There's more to it than just sex, or someone to hang out with, its a commitment that doesn't accept half tries and partial desire; good relationships are magical and at the same time mysterious..

There's not just one thing I've learned, and I know that what I have learned isn't the end.. we all must learn and grow every day, and as we do that, our relationships get stronger and wiser.

I guess that's my sappy two cents, for what it's worth..

[dvcgal]

Through age I have learned that most men try to fix things and offer solutions while women generally offer compassion. So, when I'm upset and need a shoulder to cry on, I call my one of my close girlfriends. When I need to get out of some kind of situation, I call my husband!

[MonaLisaVito]

Spankings can be a good thing