[MaggieL]

Another key success factor is knowing how to have a long term relationship. I don't think it's a skill set that can be successfully described nor taught--except perhaps by example. My mom and dad, while they were not perfect in some ways, did manage to convey it to me. My brothers are all still with their first wives, and both have kids.

My first marriage lasted 23 years, untill we confronted the Mother of All Irreconcilable Differences. Breaking up was insanely difficult, but we managed to get though it without bloodshed. We're still civil to each other, and have managed to co-parent with apparent success.

I think it took a lot of the same skills to break up that it took to get together and stay together all that time.

I guess what I'm saying is: in building a relationship it's not just good raw materials (although they are vital as well). It's workmanship too. :-)