This is for the packrats!

Alright, I am a former pack rat myself and my husband is still a horrible pack rat. It is really hard with him seeing how we live in a one bedroom apartment that is so small we barely have room for the things we NEED. What my husband doesn't know is that once a week(when I have the the time, its been a hectic and busy summer so I am doing this tonight) I take a garbage bag and just toss all the junk we don't need out, 95% of the time my husband doesn't even notice(that's when you know you don't need it). I usually wait until I put the kiddo to bed before I do this so I can focus all my attention on the task but if you think you can do it with the kiddo(s) around then go for it.

Take a "Babymoon"

Alright, so some who read this might be married but are expecting their first child. This one is for you ladies. Before your baby is born take a babymoon. Take one last good vacation together before your baby is born. It will be hard to find special time together for a while after your baby is born and it is important for you as a couple to remember why you love each other. You need to have this special time together to reassure each other that you are there for each other through thick and thin and that you guys are ready for this next step in life as a united front instead of 2 individuals.

Rekindling Romance

Rekindling Romance

We all know that once a baby is born romance can sometimes go right out the window. Once that romance goes you will most likely snap at each other from all the sexual tension because things just aren't good enough. Here are some little tips to get you and your spouse back on the "love wagon":

• Don't let you mind wonder during sex. Once you let your mind wonder you aren't really into it any more and it won't be enjoyable for you.
• Go on a mini-honeymoon. Yes, it is hard to leave the kids sometimes. Yes, you have a lot of things to do at home. But to keep a marriage happy you need to take a break with you spouse. You need to do this at LEAST once a year, even if its just to a hotel a couple towns over(do not go in the same town, it will be to easy to spend time doing things other then trying to have a good time alone with your spouse).
• Start dating again. Remember how much easier things were when you were dating. How you would go out on a weekend and get dinner, maybe see a movie. Start it all over again. Set up a regular day for a couple time. You can go and hang out with friends and everything but make sure you set aside an hour or two of that night to just be by yourselves as a couple, no one else but you and your spouse.
• The power of the touch. Think back to when you and your spouse first got together, you used to hug all the time, get a kiss hello and goodbye whenever you saw them, you held hands. Just these small gestures can help so much with your spouse. It makes them feel a little more appreciated and wanted.

Please take the time to work on your marriage, even if you think you have a good marriage. There is always room for improvement in every aspect of a life, why just sit there and let it be mediocre?

Sometimes It's Best to be the Listener

Now we all know we have problems as women and as wives, but let's think about our husbands here for a second. They have problems just like us, insecurities just like us, emotions just like us. Sometimes you just need to sit back and be the listener instead of the talker, not only do they need to talk about things but you also need to show you husband that you care about the issues he is going through.

Stop Talking About "Life"

Being a wife has it's difficult times, especially when you have a child. Getting time to yourselves is important but getting time together is just as important. Remember when you first got together with you husband, before children, before the worries of being able to pay all of your bills. You just talked. You didn't just grunt at each other as you passed by to go to the bathroom. You would talk about everything under the sun. My husband and I have something we do together that is not only entertaining but it sparks conversation. When he is off work(he work's 3rd shift so time together is hard enough as it is without a child) we get together at the computer and cuddle up and watch "Is it a good idea to microwave this?" on Youtube(check it out). We sit there and watch what they decide to stick in there as it melts and on the best occasions blow up, then we sit there after we get done and it just sparks conversation about all sorts of things. We will talk for hours about all sorts of things, not about bills, not about our daughter, not about the normal troubles in life but about completely random things that really don't make a difference in the world or in our lives. It just brings us closer together and lets us bond even more and strengthen our relationship.