Turkish family ministry booklet hopes to ease couples into married life

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

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A good marriage comes from mutual love, respect and understanding and is supported by a healthy sex life, according to Turkey’s Family and Social Policies Ministry’s recently republished booklet.

The “Communication in Marriage and Life Skills” booklet aims to guide couples through different stages of married life, including early honeymoon days to subsequent domestic disputes, explaining in detail what constitutes a good and healthy marriage, including repeated advice on the couples’ sex life.

The booklet frequently reiterates the importance of a healthy sex life, advising both sides to take the steps toward establishing a balanced sex life where open communication is encouraged. A healthy sex life ties the couple together, and sexual topics are where couples have the most difficulty expressing themselves, according to the booklet.

It also calls on couples to take 10 minutes every day and spend it only with each other and to attempt to make time for each other as often as they can. Couples are encouraged to take walks together, watch the sunset, listen to music, hold hands and embrace often.

The booklet also touches on the subject of divorce, warning couples not to make haste with the decision.

“Most studies confirm that divorces don’t happen due to a lack of love between partners, but because of inefficient methods of solving problems,” the booklet states.

Nowadays, couples apply for divorces too easily and consume the feeling of love too fast, the booklet states, adding that change is inevitable in terms of the feelings partners have for each other.

Couples should be willing to preserve the passion and commitment they have for each other in order to maintain the marriage, the booklet states.