Not a walk in the park
There are two things in my life that are a huge challenge: marriage and parenting. They are the greatest challenges I have ever faced.
Today I want to talk about marriage. J and I have been married 5.5 years now and had dated 5 years prior to that. We didn’t live together before marriage, which is something that was important to us. He moved in the day of our wedding and the next day we headed out on our honeymoon. When we returned, I realized that this boy, and all of his stupid boy stuff, were not leaving. I went in my closet, cried and called my mommy. I was basically told to buck up, and thus the marriage began. Even though we have known each other longer than a decade, we are learning who we are each day.
Communication in marriage is key. If we do not talk, we cannot grow. We have learned that especially since having children. We barely talk during the week, except for quick conversations during dinner and checking in each night about the plan for tomorrow. There are many couples who realize, once the kids grow up and leave, that they have no interest any more in this person who has shared their bed for years. They had focused on the kids, instead of each other. I will not let that happen to us. I love J with my entire self, and part of my goal for giving up during Lent, was to take up my marriage.
This morning was a typical morning that involved making breakfast, potty learning, and getting ready for work, school, and daycare. J stayed up a bit too late last night, and was a bit of a grouch (sorry honey). I wanted to yell at him, but I am trying not to do that, especially in front of the kids. Instead I said, “how can I make your day better?” He didn’t have an answer to that, but I hope that I was showing him I care.
I want to live a God-filled, loving marriage. I want my son and daughter to learn how to be a husband and a wife, and to see what a healthy relationship looks like. One day at a time.