Reality TV for Newlyweds
Tuesday March 4, 2008
ABC premiered the reality show, Here Come the Newlyweds last Sunday. Seven newly married couples live in a house together, get relationship advice, bond with each other, and compete for a grand prize that is already up to more than $300,000. Each week, the couples have to vote one couple out of the house and therefore the competition. Some critics have described the show as Big Brother meets The Bachelor meets Survivor.
In the first episode, blindfolded husbands had to know which kiss on the cheek came from their wife, and six out of the seven couples got it correct. Later, the blindfolded husbands had to take directions from their wife on how to drive through an obstacle course that ended with the men parallel parking the vehicle.
Although most of the show seems ridiculous -- what does directing your blindfolded husband who's driving do for your marriage? -- there are some things other newlyweds can learn by observing the participants. For instance, in the first episode, a sex therapist visits the couples and talks to them about intimacy. One of the exercises has the couples putting their hands on their spouse's heart, looking into his or her eyes, and completing the phrase, "I want..." The sentence was completed with everything from "a family" to "to kiss you everyday for the rest of my life." This is one activity you could perform with your own spouse to get a better idea of his or her needs and desires for today and the future.
Many of the couples on the show have been together only a short while. It will be interesting to see if they know each other well enough to perform under pressure as a united team. The show is available for viewing on ABC's Web site or every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC television. I wouldn't prescribe couples performing death-defying stunts or competing with other couples to prove their love. But I would suggest working on your team and communication skills. Here are some tips for doing just that:
How to Build Trust
How to Avoid Divorce
Activities for Getting to Know Your Spouse Better
In the first episode, blindfolded husbands had to know which kiss on the cheek came from their wife, and six out of the seven couples got it correct. Later, the blindfolded husbands had to take directions from their wife on how to drive through an obstacle course that ended with the men parallel parking the vehicle.
Although most of the show seems ridiculous -- what does directing your blindfolded husband who's driving do for your marriage? -- there are some things other newlyweds can learn by observing the participants. For instance, in the first episode, a sex therapist visits the couples and talks to them about intimacy. One of the exercises has the couples putting their hands on their spouse's heart, looking into his or her eyes, and completing the phrase, "I want..." The sentence was completed with everything from "a family" to "to kiss you everyday for the rest of my life." This is one activity you could perform with your own spouse to get a better idea of his or her needs and desires for today and the future.
Many of the couples on the show have been together only a short while. It will be interesting to see if they know each other well enough to perform under pressure as a united team. The show is available for viewing on ABC's Web site or every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC television. I wouldn't prescribe couples performing death-defying stunts or competing with other couples to prove their love. But I would suggest working on your team and communication skills. Here are some tips for doing just that:
How to Build Trust
How to Avoid Divorce
Activities for Getting to Know Your Spouse Better
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