The truth about relationships

Your relationship really gets tested when you're under stress. You start arguing about stupid little things, you become really sensitive about things you would usually laugh at. Suddenly your partner's cute little habits that you usually find endearing and funny become irritating and frustrating. It's during those times that the character of your relationship really comes out. In times where things aren't cushy financially, or either partner is under strain emotionally or at work, that's when you find out what your relationship is really made of. I remember in the beginning of my relationship with my now-husband, I used to think it was impossible to ever be angry with him, or to argue with him. I don't think we had a single fight in the first few months. It seemed like nothing could ever go wrong.

Unfortunately, sooner or later, life hits you in the face like a bad headache. It's plain to see on The Amazing Race who has been together for a long time, who is freshly in love, and who is just starting to discover reality in their relationships. When put in stressful situations like that, your worst side comes out. The characteristic "older couple" on The Amazing Race, however, give me hope that the longer you are together, the better you seem to be able to manage and deal with stress together - and each other during stress.

Apart from the many ethical issues I have with The Bachelor - not least of which is the fact that the women are always the ones that get hurt - I really have a problem with the pretence of it all. What happens on the show is not real life. They get to go away on cruises and have dinner every night, and go skiing, and swimming with dolphins etc etc. Who has such a life? For crying out loud, sooner or later you're going to find out that the perfect little bachelor, Andrew, farts and poos like the rest of us. Never mind the fact that there will be stress (there always is, even if you are a millionaire - maybe even more so).

My husband always says that one of the most important things in a relationship is how you reconcile. Lucky for us, we reconcile quite quickly and easily. We hate being angry with each other and sooner or later one of us (usually him) reconciles. Our relationship has most definitely been tested, ever since we have gotten together, and I think we are learning (slowly) how to deal with it.