as salamu alaykum,

 

Shokran for writing to our live session sister. You stated that you’re 27 and have been married for 7 years. It is only recently that you and your husband have broken out of the “monotony of everyday life” and started to really get to know one another. Your good news is that now you are both having honest conversations and realize that you have a lot of things in common.  You found out that you and your husband are very similar.

 

Marriage: Too Similar and Compatible?

Similar interests and compatibility a very good thing. It is important to have things in common for a successful marriage.  It creates bonds and makes things easier when two people are agreeable on a number of issues.  You see it as both a positive and a negative in a sense because you feel it makes your relationship boring. You did state that you and your husband are working on taking breaks and trying to have some fun together. It seems that both of you have great insight into your marriage regarding this aspect.  You found solutions you are willing to try to make things more exciting.  This is great!  So many couples do not know how to “jump start” a marriage that has gotten “boring” but you and your husband do. Insha’Allah you both will give this a chance to bring you closer as you discover new things and enjoy each others company.

 

Spicing up a Marriage

Sister finding a spouse that you have things in common with is hard to do sometimes. It is a blessing when it happens. While you do see the good things in this, you also acknowledge that having someone that you were married to be so much like you can be boring. I would kindly suggest insha’Allah, that you and your husband sit down and talk with one another about new things you can do together to break up the monotony. Perhaps each one of you can make a list of things or hobbies that you would like to try for the first time and put your list together and choose a few of them to do together. Learning new things in life and trying different things from time to time can often lead to an enriched lifestyle. By trying new things together you are insha’Allah increasing your closeness, building memories, and learning new things. Discovering new interests can produce many wonderful things.

 

Enriching your Islamic Foundation

To further enrich your times together insha’Allah, you and your husband may want to do something simple such as take a walk, go to a movie or out to dinner. This would enhance your quality time together just enjoying each others company. Also, you may want to spend time studying the Qur’an together or take an Islamic class.  The benefits of gaining more Islamic knowledge and drawing closer to Allah is the foundation for successful marriages as I am sure you know.  I suggest this because often times when couples get into “the daily grind “ of working every day, coming home and doing the same thing, yes it can become tiresome.  By incorporating time for Allah and Islamic study on a regular basis will help keep you focused on the Islamic principles and foundations of a marriage.

 

Children, Time and Supports

As far as wanting a child, have you had a discussion with your husband about how much he would help out? Are there others who live near you such as family who could help with a baby? Are either of you in the financial position to hire a babysitter so that it may free up some of your time? There are many things to think about when it comes to having children and also having alone time. True, once you start having children a lot of the focus will be on home and family.  However, many women do still have their careers and their families as well. They often seek a supportive balance, so one or the other does not have to suffer. In your case you are worried about free time for yourself and career.  Time is a much-needed thing for moms. Oftentimes when women start having children they also have other women friends who have children. This can lead to play groups taking turns babysitting as well as a support system in general. Sometimes when you have been “child free” for a while such as yourself, thinking about giving up your freedom and thinking about having all the responsibility can be a bit overwhelming. This is a natural thought sister. I encourage you to talk with other moms about how they feel, and if they went through any similar emotions before they had their children. It is most definitely a big adjustment but it is more so a blessing.

 

Supportive Dads

You discussed the possibility of getting divorced because your husband is not supportive concerning the issue of children. Sister it seems as though you both have a lot in common, you get along and possibly have the same goals. That makes for very good marriage. If this is the only thing that is bothering you (the child issue), I would definitely encourage you to discuss it with him. Does your husband even want children now? Is he pressing you to have a child right now? If he is, or even if he is not -the conversation is still an important one to have to make sure that you both understand the commitment that it will take to raise a child. Caring for children is just not on the mom, it’s on the dad too. Fathers need to be a part of their child’s life and take responsibility as well.

 

Feeling Complete

Possibly the bigger picture is that you may feel as though you do not love your husband. You stated earlier in your question that you and he had lived like roommates for so long, and that you were so much alike that it was boring and monotonous. Perhaps this is where the problem lies. Are you in love with your husband or do you just love him because he’s a good person? I understand you may be craving a very exciting and different type of man, someone who may be less like you. This is natural to want to have excitement and something different in our lives. However, in long-term, if we are not able to agree on things or we are too different it may not work out either. You stated that your husband talks about taking a second wife to complete himself. I would ask him where he feels that he is incomplete and focus on how to resolve that. It could be he is feeling the same lack of excitement and difference that you are feeling. If that is the case insha’Allah, both of you just need to work harder spicing up your relationship and trying new different exciting and fun things. However, sister, if he does take a second wife that is his Islamic option. It is also your option to stay in the marriage or not. But I would kindly suggest really looking at the situation and decide if it is something that you want to risk losing. He sounds like a really great guy, and you both sound like you do have a good marriage despite the fact that it lacking what may be termed as excitement.

Marriage is Valuable, Marriage is Work

 

Please do talk with your husband about these two main issues of having a child and taking a second wife. Discuss what that might look like and how each of you would adjust. Insha’Allah, propose that you each write a list of new things you would like to try together. As you both have been married to each other for seven years, you grew together and there is a familiarity which is good and comforting.

 

Marriage is a valuable relationship sister and it is worth putting the effort into it especially when you both get along and have things in common.  Perhaps, sister, you should go for marriage counseling with your husband and try to resolve these issues.  I think you both have a lot of positive things going for you and your marriage, and insha’Allah you will give it 100% efforts. You are in our prayers we wish you the best.