To need to hear some positive relationship stories......

[TooSassy]

That's it really. I'm going through a divorce and as such am spending a lot of time on the fabulous Relationships talk thread getting support. The flip side of spending time on there is I am over how awful some STBX's are!!!!! I thought I was alone, but it appears not.

So AIBU to want to hear about the gazillions of other healthy and happy relationships to get a balanced view of the world?

If YANBU, please share and provide a view of life with normal people! Give those of us going through some tough times a glimmer of hope!!!

I am happily (and long-term) single - but my parents have been (mostly) happily married for 43 years: arguments, of course, like any couple - but none lasting over night, no separations, affairs or disrespect to one another. They had a period of working together - for about 20 years - which made them closer than ever.

I think their secret is respect, trust, and the understanding that people have different issues and different friends: neither of them would dream of checking up on one another, and both are free to pursue their own interests as they please. They support one another, but don't live in each other's pockets: and each expects the other to be human. (Disclaimer: my father is very New Man for someone born in the 40s - he did nappies, cooking, laundry etc long before it became fashionable for men to do so)

I don't say I don't have issues with them - but they rub along pretty well, and have faced both triumph and disaster the same.

I've been with OH for seventeen years, after leaving terrifying, dreadful marriage with only two tiny DC's and a bin bag full of clothes. The last thing in the world that I wanted was another bloke, but he just came along! We've been through some dreadful stuff over the years but nothing breaks us x

DH and I have been together 15 years, married for 9, two young DCs. He's a good man, he constantly does his best by all of us and he does as much parenting as I do, including the mucky bits. I love that whenever our 4yo asks "Do you want to play with me, Daddy?", his answer is invariably "Yes, mate, I DO - right, what are we playing?".

He's supported me through an extremely difficult time - I and most people wouldn't have blamed him if he'd walked away from me, but he loves me and he stuck with me and in the end, he's the one who saved me.

(ok ok I know that really I was the one who saved me, nobody else can, but I really doubt I'd have done it without his constant love and support).

And he's fucking hot, and when he stretches and his t shirt rides up and exposes his stomach...grrr...

My fiancé is lovely. We argue all the time. He drives me potty and I drive him potty and it's taken years to understand how to live with each other / what works. We have 2 children and we are just a team I think. Before him I was a nightmare and before me he was an absolute RAT. But every day now I'm happy, we love our life together and I feel very content. I think it's more to do with me being happier and not looking to him to make me happy. While he's important to me - he's not as important as men used to be to me. He's just my partner in crime and a good dad. Trust me - there are lovely relationships to be had - sometimes i think it's all about timing.

And now to make you all Vom. The most important relationship is to sort out the one with yourself! Then you'll find bad relationships with other people don't come so easily.

Although I am obviously always on high alert for a Dr Foster type scenario to F it all up. But if he goes he goes! Long as the kids are ok that's all that matters.

Been with DH for almost 9 years. He is wonderful, makes me laugh each day, accepts me for who I am, shares all the household chores and is a devoted father to our child. Our relationship is based on love and respect, we both loathe drama and have never game played.

My ex-boyfriends were all pretty decent too. There are many lovely men out there but they are not necessarily the loudest ones in the room.

I met DH 27 years ago, married within 18 months and have 2 Ds's. He is still my best friend, the first person I want to share good news with or indeed bad news. I still get butterflies when I know i am going to see him. we trust each other and respect each other, share our hopes and dreams, he has his life too and I have mine but lots of what interest us are shared interests too. We share similar values and agree on the way we have brought up our children. Of course we have arguments and sulking (mainly me ) he can be very selfish and I can be very unreasonable but we share a deep love that never lets the bad bits get out of hand. neither of us can ever imagine not being together and both feel we have something special that not everyone has. we have a few friends who do but a lot have seemed to have 'settled' for someone who will do rather than someone special and lots of those relationships have broken down.

I'm happily married with a 2yo whirlwind.
DH's cousin got engaged last week to a lovely man who is kind and caring. She wants children and he'll make a great father. In sharp contrast to her lazy, cheating ex.

I have been with my husband for 10 years.

I have three children from my first marriage. He loves them like they are his own. He loves them and his bio children equally. We have had our ups and downs, due to illness and some serious life events but we have always worked as a team. We are on the same side. He supports me in everything I do as I do him.

We respect each other, do what we can to make each others life easier. We are a team and it just works. When my ex husband died, he cried with the children, he put up pictures of their dad over the house, he was our rock, holding us all together and crying with us. So many people told me that blended families were so hard, but for us it never has been because we have always been one family looking out for each other.

My DH is currently at the local swimming baths with the kids (16, 13, 13, 8 and 1). He's been away all week with work. He got back at 5 on Friday, ordered a takeaway, did his washing then put on another household load when he emptied the washer (which he remembered to take out - forgetting to empty the washer is my trick) and then did bath/bed for the two youngest. Yesterday he took the 8 year old while I got shoes for the 1 year old (the bigger three have their own lives at the weekend which are busier than mine!!). He gave DD a bollocking for causing trouble while he was away even though he thinks I was a bit harsh on her (she has no idea he's not 100% behind me because that was private between us and he accepts if he's away, uncontactable, I just have to deal with it as best I can without knowing what he thinks). He's sorting the dinner tonight and will do the school run tomorrow before he's away again on Wednesday. He also comes with 2 MIL's (his mum and his first MIL) who are taking the children next weekend so I can have a weekend off as his work rota changed.

He's not perfect though. He snored last night, but he doesn't object to being kicked so he's not too bad.

We have been together for twelve years and for every single day of that, DH has been unfailingly kind, loving, affectionate and supportive. I am 100% certain that he is the man for me and we adore each other. I imagine it's quite sickening to witness!

Ten sickeningly happy years with my lovely DP. We've been together since the night we first met (introduced by mutual friends) and I miss him the moment he goes out.

I split up with my ex with DC aged 4, and 3 month old. I look back on the time leading up to ex moving out as probably the toughest time. After that life got better. I got used to bring a single parent after a year or two and quite enjoyed many aspects of it, especially the autonomy to do as I liked with the kids.

But the last 3 years I've been living with (now) DH, and have 4 step children every weekend as well as my own two. Life is busy and fun. DH and I make each other laugh. And this morning I got a cup of tea in bed

My DP is brilliant. No arguing, no controlling behaviour, no twattishness (can you tell I had a really horrible boyfriend before?!). I like that he never minds me going out with my friends (and has never been fussed about me keeping in touch with male friends), always listens to my viewpoint and opinion, and I like that I always get an equal say in stupid things like where to go for dinner or what film to see at the cinema. I know that he respects me and he has always supported me in everything.

We both have our own hobbies (he likes computer games, but we like spending time together too. He will always be up for going for a walk or watching a film together. He bring me a cup of coffee in bed every morning and makes my packed lunch for work (I hate mornings!). He has always done 50% of the housework, except since I've been pregnant he probably does about 75%. He keeps trying to sneakily do the dishwasher so I don't notice and come and help! When my morning sickness was hideous he basically did everything around the house for two months solid without a word of complaint. He is nice to my Mum, even when she's doing my head in. And the cat adores him, which I think says it all!

My husband and I have been together for 10 years. He's a wonderful man and a fantastic father to our daughter. He's always treated me with kindness and respect, and has been hugely understanding of my issues with my batshit family. I love him to bits, and on stressful days I look forward to us being old retired folks together

Been with husband for 24 years. Married for 20 next year. We just click - soulmates so to speak. 2 children - an amazing father - he does everything with them. I am a difficult person to get along with and he gets me completely. We piss each other off at times but it is rare and we get over it with laughter. Can't imagine my life without him.

DH and I have been together for almost 25 years. We have the odd row (about once every 18 months) and now and then a bit of a snark at each other, but generally we are very happy and close and supportive of each other. We have always made the big decisions together. He's a great father to the DC (not that they always appreciate his advice), and very honest and responsible, as well as very funny. When we started seeing each other I wasn't very confident about myself, but I am much more so - and that is partly growing older and partly due to him.

Plus, in cold weather he's always very warm and lets me put my cold feet on him in bed

Nobody has ever loved, respected, supported or accepted me like my DH does. Not even my parents. I have shown him the deepest, darkest recesses of my heart and he knows about my every weakness, but he has never ever used that against me and I don't think he ever would. I trust him with my life.

He's also a fantastic father and husband, supporting the family financially while I pursue my dream career. And he's handsome.

Bloody hell, that was gushing. Better go and pick a fight with him to balance things out.

Oh, and we've been together seven years.

I quite seriously all your stories.

I'm not looking to rush into anything else as I totally agree with hangingoutattheendofmywick who wrote that the best relationship is to have with yourself. My next LTR is going to be with me for a while

But please keep them coming as they are totally heartwarming and bringing a smile to my face!

I just got married in September aged 63 to a lovely man. We've been together 7 years now.
He's a widower and my cheating exh divorced me.

It's a very happy relationship. We are together 23/7 most days.

We share hobbies. We love to travel. We enjoy each others company.

He's kind and respectful, very loving and caring.

Yes, we've had the occasional row and many disagreements but they never turn nasty or disrespectful.

We love , laugh and enjoy life together. I'm his ray of sunshine and he's my anchor!

I get my breakfast in bed every morning and he's a lovely cook!

When exh left for one of his many women ( found that out after he'd gone) I had agood two years on my own.

That was good. I didnt rush anything. I suppose if you believe in fate, karma or whatever I had to wait for my man to be free.

8 months after becoming a widower we met up.

Met my DH 7 years ago almost to the day, when I was 18. Didn't appreciate what we had (too young, too stupid) and we split up after a year. Got back together over 4 years ago and they've been the best years of my life. I love him with all my heart and he loves me right back. Trust him a million %. He is a brilliant dad to our 3yo DD, we are his world and he would do anything for us. We look after each other, respect each other and try and remember to appreciate the little things. Obviously we bicker a lot, neither of us are even close to perfect, but I know he's my one and he feels the same. And he's a carpenter so he's useful round the house as well as really fit.
However I would also point out he drives me up the fucking wall every so often! But good relationships do definitely exist. I'm very very lucky.

Been married 27 years , together for longer though
I knew the minute I saw him that he would be my husband , it was weird
He absolutely completes me and me him

Married 12 years, together 15. Been through hell and back together and always come out strong. Moving, redundancies, total skintness, business failure, bereavements, serious illnesses, disability... All these have come our way but we got through together.

Have 3 beautiful kids. Dh is a hands on dad and does chores. We also have had joint money since as long as I can remember and all assets are joint. Big decisions always made together. Silly bickering and stupidity but no huge rows. Both of us go out together and alone.

It is possible. Keep looking!