5 Small Things You Can Do To Keep Your Marriage Alive

It can be hard to have a loving marriage and a family.  I think many of us often get stuck in the daily to-dos and forget about our partners needs.  Marriage is hard, and the last thing we want to do is leave our spouse feeling unloved and under appreciated.  It’s important to keep your children happy, but you have to keep your marriage alive too.

So what are some things you can do to ensure you and your spouse keep the spark alive even with children in the home?  Here’s a few things that you can do to help keep your spouse feeling loved and appreciated.

Quality Time Daily – I know it sounds hard and between kids, work, homework, dinner, baths, and everything else that comes along with having a family.  Spending quality time with your spouse is not only important for you, but for your family. 

When I say spend quality time together I don’t mean go on a date.  I simply mean, lay in bed with one another for 30 minutes talking before falling asleep.  Takes showers together, cook dinner together.  My husband and I make it a point to spend at least 30 minutes together every single day.  Whether its cooking dinner, talking while we fold laundry, or actually spending time together after the kids have gone to bed.   With four children we talk our quality time how we can get it.  We always try to spend 30 minutes to an hour together after the kids have gone to bed, but that doesn’t always happen.  That’s when we settle for cooking dinner together or chit chatting while doing a household chore.

Talk - Communication is the key to any relationship.  If something is on your mind, say it.  If you’re wondering, ask it.  If you’ve had a bad day, tell your spouse why.  If the children have done something, tell your spouse.  Rather than getting all worked up and yelling, talk about it.  I know it can be hard, it might even require some work.  Talk about it, if you’re having issues they will never get fixed if you’re relationship doesn’t have room for communication.  Having an open and honest relationship is a must.

Say It – I don’t care what anyone says.  You can show me you love me all day long, yes I love it and I want more of it, but I want to hear it to.  Tell your spouse you love the, why you love the, let them know they’re attractive.  Flirt with one another, it’s fun and a nice confidence builder.

Date Night – Try to have a date night, just your and your spouse at least once a week.  If that is not doable try for twice a month.  Spend quality time together alone.  Ladbrokes.com currently have an array of online games on offer that you and your partner can play on a date night. This is a great way to grow closer together whilst having plenty of fun at the same time. In terms of the games that Ladbrokes offer, they range from TV/Quiz related games to original arcade games like, Supercubes and Royal Reactors.’.

Don’t forget the little things – If you’re wife like sunflowers bring her one every now and then just to show her you’re thinking about her.  Ladies if you’re husband like a phone call during the middle of the day, or you dressed up in something nice when he comes home, do it.  It’s those little things that let them know we’re always thinking about them.

We as parent spend so much time worrying about what the children need it’s easy to forget about what our spouse needs.   However in the end, it’s really about thinking about your partner and their needs.  When you first meet you couldn’t get them off your mind, you wanted to surprise them and make them happy every second of the day.  Things should not change because you have children.  If anything you should love this person more, this person who has blessed you with a family.  We might not be able to show it as much, but it does not mean everything stops because children are around.

As parents it’s normal to put the needs of our children first, just don’t forget about the needs of your spouse.  What are some things you do to keep your marriage alive?

© 2013, Jenn. All rights reserved.