How I Juggle It All: 6 Powerful Marriage Tips to Balance Marriage and Parenting Priorities
Can we prioritize our marriage and parenting duties successfully?
Good Thursday, Icons,
Thank you so much for joining our newsletter.
We pray that you have had an amazing week in life, love, marriage and family.
August is Back to school month, and we are typing that around our parenting series just for you.
Remember, Iconic is a community. Please leave a life, share and comment so we can continue the conversation down in the comments.
How I Juggle It All: 6 Powerful Marriage Tips to Balance Marriage and Parenting Priorities
I love being a wife and mother. At times, however, it can feel like a juggling act to carry the responsibilities of both. Luckily, my husband shares the load, and we get through it together.
Conversations across social media in the relationship/parenting space have had a similar theme:
How do we balance both responsibilities?
Which comes first your spouse or your kids?
How do we have enough time in today’s busy world?
I have created a newsletter to help us all navigate these questions and to create social empires that thrive.
Prioritizing Our Marriages First
Your spouse comes first.
Ensuring your children are well-cared for goes hand in hand with prioritizing your marriage. It's not about neglecting the kids, but rather setting a positive example for them. It's all about maintaining order.
Children need to see their father showing love to their mother. They are unlikely to respect a father who is disrespected by their mother. They require structure, order, and stability, especially in a world that can seem chaotic. A family united in approach provides this stability.
How do couples manage to balance everything? They lead by example.
What are other methods for balancing our relationships and parental responsibilities? Here are my six suggestions:
6 Ways to prioritize married life and kids
Tip #1: Discuss Sexual Expectations.
Women who have recently given birth are in the postpartum period and should generally wait at least six weeks before engaging in sexual activity.
However, if they choose to breastfeed, caring for a newborn can disrupt intimate moments for parents.
During this time, both men and women need to be adaptable to prioritize their children's needs, recover from childbirth, and catch up on sleep.
This isn't a period to be concerned about the absence of sex, bodily changes, or hormonal fluctuations.
Indeed, intimacy is important, but it's not the only thing that matters. Couples should discuss and understand their intimacy patterns and plans for children before starting a family to avoid consecutive pregnancies, reopening of wounds, and diminished sexual desire, among other issues.
Many issues highlighted on social media could be mitigated if couples communicated openly and honestly before having children and remained adaptable post-birth.
Agreeing on these matters is crucial, but so is honoring those agreements. It's important to address any medical, psychological, or spiritual concerns and enjoy intimacy.
However, it's also important to acknowledge that sometimes, it just might not be possible. Have the grace to understand and support your spouse which will make the next available time that more special.
Tip #2: Mutual Respect
If you honor and love your spouse, you know they are NOT just your spouse but juggle multiple hats daily.
That means taking into account that marriage and family life is not only about meet YOUR needs.
Yes, make time for your spouse and make it often. But remember that there are only 24 hours in a day, and we should sleep 8. In those 16 hours, you need to be an expert at understanding your spouse is human and respecting them for that alone.
Respecting that they decided to marry you, not anyone else. What do I mean?
Cut them some slack and give more care that there needs matter too. People get tired, people get horny, and people get busy (not just in terms of sex).
The best couples are open, honest and sacrifice a lot for the better of the relationship only when both are doing it.
Iconic Media Library Collection On Sale
In June, I became ill and visited the emergency room. CT scans revealed that I had been battling a bacterial infection for two weeks, leading to a treatment with one antibiotic followed by two additional ones. This resulted in a C. diff infection, a bacterium that proliferates due to excessive antibiotic use, causing inflammation in my colon throughout this ordeal.
As medical expenses accumulate, I am striving to sustain Iconic.
Your support is needed.
If our work has impacted you positively, consider acquiring one or five eBooks from our extensive library. Each book is designed to empower you in distinct ways. Additionally, our exclusive “Iconic Formula for Marriage Success” 30-day course is available. To view and make a purchase, click the button below.
Remember to apply the promo code PINKY at checkout for a 50% discount.
Reviews
Do you want another way to give?
Check out our Iconic Merch shop. We have Free Shipping for a few more days.
We have merch with both the Iconic and Mrs. Pinky Thoughts podcast logo.
All donations support Iconic Media’s infrastructure and help us give emergency medical assistance to those in need.
Tip #3: The kids will be okay
It may seem harsh, but children will be fine. I'm not referring to newborns who require constant care, or young or special needs children.
I'm talking about those moments when children are perfectly content yet seek your attention without any particular reason. For example, letting my daughter play on the floor with a toy while I handle the dishes or grab my son to take out the trash.
Certainly, you can embrace these moments, watch their favorite shows with them or enjoy a playful tea party.
However, as a parent, it's crucial to balance affirmatives with boundaries, teaching them patience and the concept of 'not right now.'
Effective scheduling and time management are key. Utilizing babysitters or alternating responsibilities with other parents can also be beneficial. Getting support with your children is critical when you want to make sure other responsibilities are prioritized.
It's important for parents to understand that children will manage if they're not catered to at every beck and call. As they mature, they'll learn to handle small tasks independently, which you can encourage while you attend to other children, spend time with your partner, or enjoy some solitude.
You must take control of your time, guide your children with kindness, and bear in mind that they won't remain young forever.
Tip #4: Your Spouse will be Okay
You always have the right to your own body and can say no to your spouse. While in marriage, bodies are shared in intimacy, this does not grant the right to initiate sex with a sleeping spouse who has been explicitly refused. Love is about not doing harm and sexual violence is never a loving act.
True submissiveness comes from 100% consent and fully affirmation. Anyone in any marriage full of love wants a willing spouse. The care to attend to each other’s needs often enough that saying no won’t be a huge issue. Make your spouse feel wanted and needed so that when the time is right, there is no guesswork.
We both understand; this is not about a spontaneous caress that escalates.
A firm no must always be respected.
And you will be fine.
In a relationship, it's necessary to be open to intimacy in various forms, at different times, and for varying durations. However, it's also important to understand that it's okay not to be in the mood sometimes.
And no, the capability of working women to 'do it all' should not be underestimated or blamed for any perceived lack.
Bad days, hormonal shifts, and other factors can lead both men and women to decline sex sincerely. Yes, sometimes men want a day off as well. It is a myth that only men want and desire lots of sex and women do not. Sexual appetites differ and it is your job as a team to come to a conclusion that works for you both.
It's crucial to remember that your spouse is someone you love and saying yes or no should be communicated in a way that nurtures the marriage.
Just as children can handle occasional refusals, so can a spouse.
The key is to maintain a healthy balance in your responses.
Tip #5: Balance the Workload.
My husband does the majority of the heavy lifting, insect/bug duty, works with our cat’s baths and yardwork. I do most of the teaching of our kids, the cooking and laundry. The kids do age-appropriate chores from their own rooms to laundry and trash to help out as well.
We didn’t base our chores on gender roles, but what worked best for our situation.
Prioritizing your marriage and your children's wellbeing quickly involves becoming full partners. This entails sharing chores or dividing responsibilities fairly and agreeably between spouses. It also means involving the children, assigning them age-appropriate tasks, and motivating them with various rewards.
A family functions best when each member, including the spouse, feels valued. Finding what works for your family is key. While some blame marital issues on women working, various work combinations, such as post-school-age employment or utilizing the virtual marketplace, can be beneficial. There are ways to make dual-income families work. You have to be creative whatever your delineation of responsibly might be.
You can even switch it up depending on the situation.
Given the current economy, it's not feasible to dictate the best financial choices for others. Just as some men dislike returning to a messy home, a wife is unlikely to be affectionate if she's left to work and clean alone. A helpful tip is to assign chores based on individual preferences or strengths. Importantly, chore distribution should be discussed early in the relationship.
Tip #6: Remember Your Why
In the day-to-day grind, we forget why we wanted to be in this loving marriage in the first place.
We often forget we didn’t just marry each other for money, sex and housemaids.
Most of us fell in love with another human being that we wanted our souls to spend eternity together.
In that passion, we were more focused on big wide-eyed hopes and dreams, not dishes and diapers; and boy do those diapers stink.
When we are worried about deadlines, homework, sporting events, bills and more, we have to take a break and remember what we are doing; building a social empire.
That means we must prioritize our relationship so our kids can see what right looks like and then prioritize our kids health and well-being.
That doesn’t mean that sometimes the kids come first in a situation or then the spouse.
What I am saying is that you and your spouse remember your overall goal! What is the vision for your marriage?
Did you get marriage to beat each other up, to pit the kids against each other or your spouse or did you marry to leave a legacy?
Legacy building is not easy. It takes so many things. But remembering your WHY keeps you pushing and never quitting on each other.
And that is Iconic.
Summary
Many people are so preoccupied with prioritizing their spouse or children in marriage that they end up neglecting everyone's needs.
They struggle to say no to sex when a child needs attention or to recognize the right time to put the children to bed to enjoy moments with their spouse.
Couples are facing challenges because they've lost sight of their purpose and identity within the marriage, leading them to consider court intervention for their sanity.
However, it doesn't have to be this way.
With a bit of common sense, hard work, and plenty of love, it's possible to nurture a marriage that values the partnership while also caring for the children.
Once you're prepared to put in the effort, you'll achieve the outcomes you desire.
And Iconic stands ready to provide the tools necessary to accomplish this.
🌟 Become a Sponsor on Iconic - Where Families Flourish 🌟
Call to Action: Join us at Iconic, the premier destination for inspiring marriage and family content. Our platform celebrates the joy of family life, offering a space where positive stories and advice thrive. We invite you to be a part of our journey by choosing one of our exclusive sponsorship packages:
🌱 Seed Sponsor - $25 a month
Your brand name listed on our “Thank You” page.
A shoutout in our daily newsletter.
🌼 Blossom Sponsor - $50 a month
All benefits of the Seed Sponsor.
A featured spot in one of our weekly articles.
Social media mention across all platforms.
🌳 Evergreen Sponsor - $150 a month
All benefits of the Blossom Sponsor.
Your logo displayed prominently on our homepage.
An exclusive sponsored post tailored to your brand.
Priority placement in our sponsorship.
By sponsoring Iconic, you align your brand with values of love, commitment, and family unity. Let’s nurture these values together and watch our communities grow.
Are you interested in becoming a sponsor? Donate below and get started.
Our Iconic Sponsors
We extend a heartfelt blessing to our Icon sponsors for their monthly contributions and donations to our iconic endeavors. Their support enables us to provide free online newsletters from Monday to Friday, develop new digital products, and distribute free books to the public each month via Twitter.
Subscribe today to their newsletters and purchase/preorder their newest books.
Coach Felecia Killings of The Felecia Killings Foundation | Empowering rising leaders with advanced spiritual and practical training that help them manifest their God-given purpose in the social, political, and economic spheres. Sign up for Coaching and Leadership Services today.
Greg Bulla of From Where I Stand Substack | Looking at the lessons to be learned from authentic American history and how they can build better communities of individuals. Order your copy of For Their Own Good? today.
Sponsors We Say Thank You!
Jimmie Doss
Richard Garner
Greg Bulla
Felecia Killings
Michelle Murphy
Maddie
Tye
Affiliate Marketing Opportunity
Consider affiliate marketing with us!
Maybe you’re interested in a collaboration and discount for the new marriage e-Course, eBooks or want to be a guest writer.
We have an opportunity here at Iconic Media.
Earn profits by helping us get more couples to sign up for our new class. Each time you sell a course, eBook or more, you help us empower more real-life couples on top of our daily newsletter.
It is a chance to help as many couples as possible.
Do you need a group discount for bulk print eBook orders, 10 or more folks want to attend the course together or you want something else?
Reach out to me at the private message link below.