You expected, once the honeymoon was over, to consult your wife on a number of issues but not on this one. After all you're a teacher Why should she explode when you tell her , on the honeymoon, you're going to spend the first two years of your life together living and working in Saudi Arabia.

What you should know about a happy marriage is that it's based on discussing everything with your wife.

In joining with her in marriage you've asked here to give up carefree culture of single life for the highly responsible culture of married life where she's expected to put you first when making any decisions.

Now she has to deal with a whole new kind of culture shock as well. She has to swap the sandy dunes of Newport Beach California for desert dunes. In a land where she doesn't speak the language she has to find new friends.

And she has the added trauma of facing the birth of her first child in a hospital system she knows nothing about.

Your defense is you "assumed" it would be OK because of all the huge pay increase coming your way.

Marriage Makeover Part 2 calls on you to check all assumptions.

How do you do that?

Simple. Ask your wife if what you're planning is OK by her.

For now, all you can do is apologize and ask for her forgiveness.

And pray she will.

Copyright 2006 Kenneth Little