This entire discussion is relatively new; historically, taking your husband’s last name upon marriage wasn’t up for debate. The first American woman to legally maintain her surname was Lucy Stone, who in 1856 became an icon for women who wanted to buck marital traditions (for decades after her, women who kept their names after marriage were known as ‘Lucy Stoners’).
Not all couples divorce when their relationship runs into trouble. Many soldier on remembering that they entered into a partnership “for better or for worse” but what impact does this have on their self-esteem and ultimate happiness?
We work hard to make our lives easier, but sometimes, things pile on, cause stress, and wear on our relationships. Whether you are newly married or you tied the knot years ago, there are undoubtedly times when your relationship is strained. From which of you didn't wash the dishes and allowed the petrol tank to run empty to your boss piling on work or deadlines approaching. The symptoms of environmental, professional, and personal stresses usually get taken out on those closest to us, our spouses.
