The 4 Stages of Marital Culture Shock

When you read or hear the phrase “oil can,” what’s the first thing that pops into your head?

For me, #1 is the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. Big surprise, right?

But I bet you can’t guess my #2. Go ahead, I’ll give you a minute.

[Cue the Jeopardy theme song here.]

Okay, time’s up. If you said, “What is marital culture shock?” you’d be correct.

You see, in our first year of marriage not only did Ted refuse to take care of oil changes in my car (like all the good men on my side of the family were known to do), but I also came to an important realization: I hadn’t just married this man named Ted, I’d married the culture he brought with him. And, in many ways, it was quite different from my own.

Today I’m over at Start Marriage Right talking about oil cans, my first year of marriage, and how couples can identify and be prepared for the different stages of marital culture shock.

So head over to Start Marriage Right, read “The 4 Stages of Culture Shock,” and then come back here and share your own “oil can” story in a comment. I’d love to hear that I’m not the only one who’s experienced marital culture shock.