# For this assignment, I want you to think through several common areas where individuals bring in expectations to a relationship. I have listed several areas below and there may be others that are not listed.
Specific assignment details:
- There are six main expectation areas outlined below and under each expectation area is a set of bullet points with additional follow up questions to get you thinking further about your potential expectations for this specific area.
- You are to select FOUR of these expectation areas to write about (although you can write about all six if you want to).
- You can write out your expectations in a similar bulleted outline format but you still need to use complete sentences with appropriate college level grammar and mechanics.
- You do not have to address each follow up bullet point question but you can, and you can discuss other things not listed in the bullet points.
Expectation areas:
1) Personal goals and expectations
- what are your goals regarding education, career, where you want to live, how many children you want to have, etc?
- what expectations do you have for your spouse in these areas (education/career)?
- do you want to live near family? if so, would you consider relocating for a job for either you or a spouse?
2) Financial matters
- do you want to work? full time or part time? what about your spouse?
- how will you handle finances? will you combine your finances or keep separate accounts?
- who will pay the bills and handle budgets? how much money do you want to put in savings each month? any other rules for spending?
- how do you want to handle debt?
- how do you want to handle situations where friends or family may need to borrow money?
3) Household arrangements/family
- who does the housework? how are these duties split?
- what kind of home do you want to have? do you want to own or rent?
- would you allow family members to live with you? under what circumstances?
- how often will you see and spend time with extended family?
4) Children
- do you want children? if so, how many?
- how would you handle infertility? would you pay for different treatments? what about foster or adoption?
- how will children be disciplined?
- how will children be educated? public or private school?
- who will care for children before kindergarten?
- will you practice any religion?
5) Intimacy and Infidelity
- what constitutes infidelity? how will this be dealt with?
- any other expectations for this area?
6) Other (things you may discuss could include…)
- expectations for your social life or the social life of your spouse, which can include the types of friends each person can have
- if a remarriage or if you or spouse has children, any expectations for dealing with ex spouse or other parent of children?
- any physical standards for spouse?
- any deal breakers?
- any other standards or expectations?