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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

What does your healthy relationship look like?

13 replies

Mumoftwojune · 23/01/2026 13:26

Interested to know everyday examples of what ‘healthy’ and ‘normal’ relationships look like?

What are verbal exchanges like?
How does the mood and energy feel?
What is the level of physical affection?
How is conflict resolved?
What typically is the most repeated negative pattern in your relationship? Is it something trivial like him leaving the loo seat up or do you have any unresolved issues?

I am pretty certain my marriage is neither healthy nor normal but my husband seems to think our challenges are ‘normal life’.

OP posts:
Hairsterical · 23/01/2026 13:36

Tell us more about yours! Trying to assess my own unhealthy one so can’t answer you but am watching.
In mine it is continual conflict with no resolution and it’s an endless cycle of effort and bad energy. We’re not aligned on life goals, love, parenting or day to day sharing a home.

Badbadbunny · 23/01/2026 13:44

For me....

Never having silly arguments about unimportant things - no sniping at each other - disagreement dealt with in a calm and respectful manner, no shouting, no aggression, no sulking, no storming off in a huff etc.

Both being reliable - if one of us agrees to do something, then it gets done, no if's no but's, except for genuine emergency reasons, not having to constantly chase the other to do things, not having to remind them constantly, not having to check they've done something because they're unreliable and forgetful etc.

Major decisions made equally, one party not doing something big without the other agreeing to it beforehand, no "big" surprises, etc. No buying "big ticket" items without proper discussion and agreement.

Respectful with physicality etc. Not misinterpreting a kiss and cuddle with being a promise of wild sex, happy to accept "no" when I'm not feeling it, not pushing my boundaries, not grabbing me around the house when he's feeling randy and I'm trying to do housework or make tea!

So, basically, honestly, respect and reliability. No aggression (verbal nor physical). We're equals. If a partner (or potential partner) doesn't treat me as an equal and with respect etc., then he won't remain as a partner for long - it's my red line and I will use it however long I've known someone, whether a first date or someone I've known for years.

timetostandup79 · 23/01/2026 13:46

I was in a very unhealthy marriage. I'm now in awe in a healthy relationship and every day I thank my lucky stars that I am. When I tell you things that still surprise me, you'll probably realise how bad my marriage was 😆

Very affectionate, we cuddle up on the couch, he holds my hand when we walk and moves me to the inside of the pavement away from traffic!
We share chores - if one of us cooks the other clears up.
He listens to me, and knows what I need. I was getting upset and frazzled as my 2 kids (not his) hadn't done their homework at their Dad's, I had all the uniform to wash and iron etc. About 10 minutes later I heard him in the kitchen with my youngest, helping him with his maths homework.
Verbal exchanges are calm, loving. If we disagree or talk over each other we'll apologise, hug, make up.
We don't really have conflict to be honest, because we talk before it gets to that stage and we're pretty good at reading each other. I know if he's stressed and what he needs when he is. Likewise, I suffer from anxiety and he can read me like a book. He knows I don't need to talk, I just need to feel calm and usually a big hug from him helps.

We notice each other, we say thanks for the little things.

We're a team. Some days it's all him doing the hard work as I'm an anxious mess. Other days he's worn out from a physical job and travelling and it's on me to keep the life admin going.
No resentment, ever.

tarheelbaby · 23/01/2026 13:51

verbally: super polite, friendly, lots of pleases/thank yous; if one is talking the other listens actively. No shouting except if at a distance or one has a bunged up ear.
mood/energy: calm, relaxed
physical affection: occasional peck on the cheek, shoulder squeeze, quick kiss goodbye/hello; sometimes hold hands when walking; regular but not frequent
bedroom action
conflict resolution: not a lot of conflict actually; usually in agreement and if one person has a strong opinion, the other usually respects that. Otherwise, we talk through what the issue is and try to find a compromise.
We've divided up the chores somewhat by default - we each do the things we like/are good at.
repeated negatives: DH is a terrible pack rat and there are boxes and boxes full of (not really necessary) paperwork and old magazines. I frequently ask him to chuck some of it but he never really does. I would like more casual physical contact but he doesn't really go for it. He wishes I would clean more things more often and drink less wine.
We each know that we can absolutely depend on the other to the very best possible for the other.

CountryGirlInTheCity · 23/01/2026 13:56

What are verbal exchanges like?
We talk about our days if we’ve spent them apart and about plans for days we will spend together. We discuss things going on in the news and things we’re interested in or a series we’re watching together. We’re kind and respectful to each other. Obviously sometimes one of us is tired or stressed and we can be snappy from time to time but we apologise and move on. We never raise our voices to each other.
How does the mood and energy feel?
Calm, safe, mostly happy, often fun.
What is the level of physical affection?
We kiss each other before one of us leaves the house. If we’re sitting on the sofa together we’re usually cuddling. We hold hands if we go for a walk, or even if we’re just out and about. We touch each other often - a stroke on the back or bum if we’re moving past each other in the kitchen for example. We have good sex regularly.
How is conflict resolved?
By sitting down and discussing the issue and one or both of us compromising where needed. We express our feelings about things honestly but try not to accuse and we stay respectful. When we were younger we found it harder to stay calm but we’ve found a way to discuss things in a helpful way that doesn’t emotionally bruise the other person. That took time and effort.
What typically is the most repeated negative pattern in your relationship? Is it something trivial like him leaving the loo seat up or do you have any unresolved issues?
Hmm…probably tidiness. DH doesn’t mind things being left out when he’s used them as he feels he will get around to putting them away at some point. I like things to always look tidy and neat….its not a big issue though.

BetterOffNow · 23/01/2026 13:57

What are verbal exchanges like?
Like chatting with an old non-judgmental friend

How does the mood and energy feel?
Depends on the day but we respect that we'll both have tired days and bad days and do what we can to make them easier, even if that is absolutely nothing

What is the level of physical affection?
High, always kiss hello and goodbye, give little touches as we pass each other, hugs and back rubs often and regular great sex

How is conflict resolved?
We don't have much at all, but if we do, it's a case of talking and listening and usually laughing at how we ever thought it would be a problem

What typically is the most repeated negative pattern in your relationship?
Seriously nothing, and we've been together for years

Academicallyminded · 23/01/2026 14:40

What are verbal exchanges like?
Very chatty and fun, we share everything, even non-consequential little everyday things. Always respectful. Sometimes impatient, if stressed, but always respectful.

How does the mood and energy feel?
Generally chirpy, we are both positive people and bring that out in each other (and my DC). He, my DC and I have a lot of giggles, sometimes at each others' expense, but with love.

What is the level of physical affection?
Very high, always kiss hello/goodbye, often touching each other (feet touching, if we are at dinner table, or watching TV), lots of hugs, even if we are just passing by.

How is conflict resolved?
Not too many conflicts, but effective communication, conversations always lead to changes and resolution.

What typically is the most repeated negative pattern in your relationship?
We overindulge (drink/eat) when we are together because we are generally having a lot of fun!

I take none of this for granted as I was in a dysfunctional relationship for nearly 20 years which had none of this. I thought that was 'normal' - it really wasn't.

DaisyChain505 · 23/01/2026 14:49

we have never once in the time we’ve known each other called each other names or sworn at each other in anger. That doesn’t mean we don’t have disagreements but we talk respectfully to each other about what’s bothering us and then find a middle ground or solution.

We make sure we both let each other know with our words how grateful we are for each other and we also do that with physical touch. That doesn’t mean we’re having sex every day it mean we’re hugging, holding hands, being close.

We laugh and joke a lot and even if one of us has had a bad or stressful day because of something else we don’t bring they home and make the other person feel like they’ve done something wrong or that we have to walk on egg shells. Again, we talk it out, do what we can to help the other person and give each other grace if we’re not the most talkative or happy.

There is no repetitive of anything negative in our relationship.

MamaagainJuly2026 · 23/01/2026 14:50

I feel like I’m in a relationship (marriage) with my best friend. There’s never any judgement, always honest to each other and I always feel safe around my DH. I never have to worry when he goes out as I trust him 100%. Never been tempted to check his phone, never felt worried about any holidays with his friends (not often as were parents) and like wise he is the same with me. We push each other to go out and enjoy ourselves, show interest in each others hobbies.

We parent 50/50. As soon as he is home from work he is in dad mode. I’ve never felt like he hasn’t pulled his weight. He does half the chores too. I work 3 days a week, he works 5. So I’m with my DC more but he works more.

We bicker sometimes, we argue rarely but all conflict is solved by putting ourselves in the other ones shoes.

We both have annoying traits but there isn’t anything big like a continuous issue that arises.

GLC789 · 23/01/2026 14:53

What are verbal exchanges like?

Respectful, humour, sometimes a bit of nagging from my end, which he responds to with "stop nagging me" but then still does what i nagged about.

How does the mood and energy feel?

Mostly calm, fun, sometimes a little tense if were both knackered but we just acknowledge that and binge watch something together after LO goes to bed.

What is the level of physical affection?

Sporadic. We can go months without sex, then have a week or 2 where its often! We always kiss goodbye and hello and hug several times a day.

How is conflict resolved?

Usually with a bit of anger from both sides but never disrespect. No shouting, no name calling. Usually come to an agreement/compromise within the hour.

What typically is the most repeated negative pattern in your relationship? Is it something trivial like him leaving the loo seat up or do you have any unresolved issues?

He will come home later and later little by little until it gets to a point where were not eating dinner until muxh later than usual. Then says "ive beem home early all week". I usually laugh at him and he comes to realise that..just because he pulls into the driveway at 4:30 doesnt mean hes here by 4:30. It takes him time to unload his van, take off his disgusting clothes and then wash etc. Then wonders why I wait until half 5 to start dinner. We laugh about it every time but as you can see, it's trivial but absolutely does my head in.

I am pretty certain my marriage is neither healthy nor normal but my husband seems to think our challenges are ‘normal life’.

Im sorry you are feeling this way. What is it that makes you feel yout marriage is unhealthy? If you dont feel valued, respected and loved, thats not OK! Big hug x

Blueuggboots · 23/01/2026 14:54

We like each other, we enjoy each other’s company, we support each other, we discuss all big decisions about our family, our house.

if we’re frustrated about anything, we talk to each other about how we are feeling.

We hug, we kiss, but we’re not all over each other.

scaredy42 · 23/01/2026 15:49

I think DH and I have a pretty healthy (but not picture perfect) relationship.

What are verbal exchanges like? Generally lighthearted, inside jokes and made up words and doing long-running nonsense bits we've been developing for a second and singing made up songs. We can talk about serious things too, but our day-to-day default is definitely 'silly'.

How does the mood and energy feel? Very much a unit of two. It's the thing I like most, I think. We treat everything from a trip to Screwfix to going to the carwash as a hangout with our favourite person and it's really nice. We're always pleased to see each other at the end of a day (or even just a few hours doing our own things in separate bits of the house - he will come looking for me just for a kiss and then trot back off to whatever he was doing).

What is the level of physical affection? We have sex less than we'd both theoretically like to because life's busy and we're tired, but we're generally pretty affectionate - kiss on the shoulder while the other one is brushing their teeth or cooking or whatever, big cuddle if we're in a lift alone in a carpark, hold hands when we're walking places, that kind of thing. A lot of egregious bum grabs (wanted and enjoyed by all parties, lest anyone get the pearls out).

How is conflict resolved? Here's where we get to the 'not picture perfect' part 😂 I need to beat an dead horse, that's how I process things - talking round all the perspectives, wanting to get my point across. He needs to retreat and go into himself and think it through then come back calm and want to ignore it. So over the years I've learned to say 'right, go on, let's talk later' and trust that he wants to come back and sort it out, and he's learned to know that I need a proper verbal resolution so he'll come back ready to talk it out. Before, I felt abandoned and like he was sweeping stuff under the rug/not actually resolving anything, and he felt like I was badgering him and trying to make him agree rather than reaching a shared point of view. Now on the occasion we do have an actual disagreement - which isn't often - each other from separate rooms/the car/whatever where we could type our thoughts out calmly and that works well for us. I'm always surprised when I read threads where people have never raised their voice or had a cross word. We've only had a handful of these proper rows in 15 years, but they've happened. I don't think those are aspirational, obviously, but I don't think they're unusual, and I think if the foundation of the relationship is good and solid and you're fundamentally on the same team then you know it'll be okay.

What typically is the most repeated negative pattern in your relationship? Is it something trivial like him leaving the loo seat up or do you have any unresolved issues?

We might half-jokingly bicker about not letting things rot in the fridge (my worst crime, apparently) or the correct place to leave your socks after a shower (his most annoying trait) but generally we don't have much to argue about. I think the only time we've ever had Proper Arguments over the years have almost always been one of us reacting too quickly to what we assumed the other person meant/misinterpreting the tone. We're both quite oversensitive in that way - so for example when we were very poor and stressed about money, we were never arguing about how to actually handle the finances, but one of us had gone on the defensive about HOW it was brought up or the wording of what was said and then the other been upset that they were being made out to be deliberately mean.

We both know we're bad for it and it so rarely happens these days - we've maybe had one big need-to-get-some-space-for-an-hour row in 5 years, we just know now to get on the same page if we're discussing something big and trust that we're on the same team, even if both of us default as people to being a bit defensive.

WittyTaupeFox · 23/01/2026 16:05

What a beautiful thread to read and quite a few pp nailed it. 💞

like many things in life (and DIY around the house 🤣) - “fix the small problems and the big problems won’t happen”

I realise bad things unfairly and unexpectedly happen but having been in a very unstable unhappy and unsafe relationship and now in a solid happy content marriage for over a decade I can definitely say being kind, equals & being each others safety makes the difference - get that right and the fire of attraction will never fade.

edited to add - I’m sorry you are not feeling this way (the way people are describing above) about your own marriage OP. It’s not a lovely thread to read your post saying you are unhappy. Not easy in a tricky marriage and I hope you can change your way forward together. 💐

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