Women Supporting Men
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Giving Your Husband the Respect He Needs to Thrive (Even When It Hurts)
The old adage goes “Women most need security, and men most need respect.” It’s an outdated and somewhat black-and-white statement in some ways. Nonetheless, I find it’s true in my marriage…at least that latter half. (I feel like my greatest need is someone to unload the dishwasher, but that’s another matter entirely.) I’m a pretty headstrong woman, and I can easily hop the line to domineering. I can sling sarcasm that goes too far. I’ve had to intentionally work on that because a lack of respect in our home is detrimental to my husband’s confidence and ability to lead, which has negative effects on everyone in the home. So…why is…
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Fathers Should Know These Things Are Appreciated!
Write about what you know, they said. So, I write about being a mom. I do not always know what I am doing or how it will turn out, but I have an amazing mom and I am mom to two amazing sons. Thus, the majority of my writing is about being a ‘boy mom’. However…. With Father’s Day quickly approaching and a recent fishing trip with my little family, it occurred to me that sometimes dad’s ‘mom’, too. I thought I was fine. My pale white skin glowing as bright as the sun. However, I was mostly covered, wearing a large hat, sunglasses, and long shorts. Plus, there was…
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Dads Showing an Example to your Children on Mother’s Day
I have a friend that recently posted something on social media. It hit me straight in the heart. This single mother shared how much she dreads being on social media on Mother’s Day; seeing all the moms with flowers, homemade breakfasts-in-bed, and all of the lovely things that are ‘from the kids’ (but everyone knows, behind-the-scenes, the effort and expense mostly comes from the father of those kids, especially the younger ones). It should not be the case that only traditional, married, in-tact families celebrate moms on Mother’s Day! All mothers shouldbe celebrated. Not just one day a year, but every day, in this single momma’s humble opinion….. I have…
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The Best Marital Advice I Received: Your Partner Is Your Ally Not Your Enemy
A very long time ago, when my husband and I were newly married, a wise woman in our church gave us some advice that turned out to be THE statement I return to over and over in the ups and downs of marital bliss. Sitting on the couch, at a small group, the guest speaker that week was a fascinating woman that grasped my attention from the get-go. She and her husband had been married for what seemed like forever at the time, and they served as elders in our church. Though they offered up a plethora of good tips that night, one statement from her mouth resonated with me.…
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Male Confidence: How Changing My Approach Changed My Husband
Male confidence is tricky territory! Deeply ingrained societal norms place an enormous burden on men to be invulnerable — a warrior impenetrable to the worries of the world. They’re expected to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, let harsh comments roll off their back, and solve any problems that arise by throwing hands. While some of this mess is finally changing, this was the reality of my husband’s raising. Healthy self-esteem doesn’t come naturally for my fella, and it didn’t take me long as a new wife to realize that much of his confidence was tied up in how he thought I perceived him. A Tale of Two Opposites… I…
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The Impact of a Stepfather in the Family
I was once a divorced, single mother with two young sons. I met a man on a dating site, after a series of roller coaster dating scenarios I would rather not relive…..ever. This man seemed different. He knew I was a package deal. I had two sons under the age of 10, when we met. He claimed to fall just as much in love with my sons as he did me. I anxiously warned him, “My life is A LOT, are you sure you are up for it?” He wholeheartedly accepted the challenge and dove in, head-first….or possibly, looking back, heart-first. This man befriended my sons with ease. He took…
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Building A Strong Relationship: Dealing With Challenges as a Team
What makes a relationship strong? Before you answer that, consider Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. A passionate love story that started when the two met and discovered shared ideals about Mexican identity. Even better, they were both artists with strong personalities. Their marriage? Well, it was marked by fiery arguments, infidelity, and intense artistic collaboration. Diego was involved with other women through their marriage, while Frida took several lovers. The couple would fight rather publicly– through art. Frida once painted a portrait of herself crying with Diego’s face as a third eye, symbolizing the pain from their rough relationship. It came as no surprise that they divorced. Then,…
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True Love Defined by Servanthood in Marriage
As I completed my second valentine’s hat, I contemplated the red crocheted heart on the rim and what it stands for. Love. Not the mushy Hallmark kind that equates to a dozen red roses and a nice dinner out that requires a reservation once a year on February 14th. Rather, the kind of love that lasts a lifetime….. My mother had a tooth pulled last week. It was not an easy extraction. The tooth was crowned, the crown broke, and the remains of the decayed tooth underneath were barely salvageable. The dentist recommended pulling the tooth. My mother hesitantly agreed. Partway through the long procedure, feeling the intense pressure of…
