RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

Had a student ask me the other day if she should forgive her boyfriend (and father of her unborn child) for lying through omission.  He didn't want to tell her that he wanted to hang out with his friends AND thought she should be at home sleeping since she was pregnant and all.  So he lied instead of telling her.  She was mad at the time, but reflecting on it, she wanted to know what I thought.  Then she adds that he does that sometimes, lies to "protect" her.

The advice I gave her is something that I think is important for any relationship, but particularly for intimate ones (such as marriage or similar). 

DON'T PUT UP WITH ANYTHING NOW THAT YOU WOULDN'T PUT UP WITH FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. 

Whether it's watching football all weekend or buying new clothes every weekend or any other issue, couples would do better to accept wholely or move on.  Otherwise, there's a dangerous risk of bait-and-switch.  If it's okay to watch football all weekend until the first weekend after they're married because, well, she never liked it-- that's a recipe for a broken-up marriage.  Something is either okay or it's not.  Don't pretend something is okay only to "change" later.  It's not fair.