Writing gives us the freedom to share our perspective, and perhaps through mine, you will reflect on yours.

While play is an essential aspect of child development,1 it is also crucial in adulthood in non-work activities that offer relaxation, engagement, and...connection.2 Play, or leisure, is beneficial in strengthening emotional connections, reducing tensions, and promoting positive interactions within a romantic relationship.3 Furthermore, shared leisure time promotes intimacy.3 After a long workday, a couple could benefit by walking, learning a hobby, or playing a game together. Just as it is important for parents to foster a loving and open environment for children to de-stress and find freedom in play, couples benefit from prioritizing their playtime and constructing within their lives an adult playpen of sorts, a space where they can emotionally reconnect, physically rejuvenate, and mentally unwind.4

Ratatouille. Have you ever tasted it? Perhaps you’ve heard of it. This humble dish dates back to the 1700s in the Southeastern region of France—Provence, specifically. Ratatouille was born out of necessity as the farmers could not let anything go to waste. Onions and tomatoes are sautéed in a pot with a drizzle of olive oil, joined by fresh chopped bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant—or any other vegetable one can scour. Once the veggies have danced around for a bit, everything in the pot is stewed together with a bundle of dried herbs to make a delicious, hearty dish. When making Ratatouille, timing and quality ingredients are vital.

What does money represent to you? Money to me is our time, effort, work, freedom, security, comfort, and even growth. We usually give meaning and value to money by what it represents to us. Now, would you trust your money to any person? What about your partner? Do you have enough confidence in how your partner manages money? Confidence is important when making decisions, but did you know that feeling confident about money is also good for your relationship?

Six feet apart, face masks, online learning, and social isolation—these are some of the common experiences people faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, while some also experienced sickness and the death of loved ones. Community lockdown, widespread job insecurity, rampant financial stress, and relational conflict were also trademarks of this unique time in history, which offers to teach emerging adults and the rising generation some profound lessons—among them, the answer to how changes in financial stress can impact relational wellbeing.

Financial socialization is like preparing for and hiking a steep mountain for the first time: daunting and unfamiliar at first. Financial socialization is the process of achieving financial capability; in other words, it is the journey of gaining knowledge, skills, and behavior related to effectively managing resources and making financial decisions.1 While hiking, like during financial socialization, you may need guidance from others—or hiking buddies—to know the best way forward. Additionally, there may be forks in the road that require turning to trail guides for assistance. With the right gear—or right financial knowledge and guidance—emerging adults can confidently face their financial future, like reaching the mountain summit. Dr. Melissa Curran and colleagues highlight three key roles played in the sharing of financial knowledge during this adventure: the role of parents aka “trail guides,” partners aka “hiking buddies,” and the personal role you take to guide themself.2

Race is one of many factors that can affect our experiences. For example, in the United States there is vast economic inequality by race due to past and present racism and differences in opportunities (for example, the average White family has twice the income and 13 times the wealth as the average Black family).1 Socioeconomic status tends to be an inherited trait, with kids of wealthy parents being more likely to become wealthy themselves, and kids of impoverished parents being more likely to live in poverty themselves.2 Racism and economic inequality can also affect families’ access to and experience with banks and financial institutions.3 A combination of these and other factors could contribute to differences in how parents of different races teach their kids about money.

Picture a newlywed couple, hand in hand, walking into their first home together. Beneath their smiles lies a hidden challenge: balancing their roles and responsibilities as they build both their relationship and their financial future. In the recent article, On the Same Page? Newlyweds’ Agreement About Shared Power Predicting Financial Management Behaviors Through Marital Commitment[1], distinguished scholars suggest that the way a couple navigates their marriage might also predict how they navigate their finances. Many assume that financial behaviors (e.g., paying your bills on time, or saving money from every paycheck) are a central driving force for romantic relationship outcomes.[2] However, research suggests that the ability of couples to maintain balance and commitment may also shape newlywed relationships, with financial behaviors serving as an outcome of these dynamics.

Differences in a relationship don’t always have to be harmful; in fact, at times they may actually be a strengthing factor. The unique qualities each partner brings—whether in opinions, perspectives, or choices—can create opportunities to grow together. As couples learn about their differences, they have the opportunity to discover what makes their partner special and valuable within the relationship.

On the 23rd of January 2020 the city of Wuhan, China shut down in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. By February 10th, less than a month later, over 1,000 individuals throughout the world had passed away from COVID-19. On March 13th President Donald Trump declared a nationwide emergency, which led to school systems, restaurants, businesses, and even grocery stores to shut down. Social distancing was implemented, and masks were worn by many to attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 and avoid the illness themselves.[1]