You've heard it a million times. Marriage is hard. Marriage is difficult. Marriage takes work. Clichés are clichés for a reason. Sometimes we hear them so often that it's easy to forget the truth they lay out so clearly. The coupling of two worlds into one new, whole, complete, and fully functional mega-world is no easy feat. And like any difficult thing, it takes skill … [Read more...]
Life is About this One Thing, and the Sooner You Realize It the Better Your Life Will Be
The older I get the more I realize that humans share many more similarities than differences. And no matter who you are, you're struggling with something today. None of us are coasting through life unimpeded on an express path to our most ambitious goals. And if you are, hit me up below so we can talk. We struggle because we're human. We struggle because we were raised by … [Read more...]
I Asked My Wife Did She Regret Marrying Me? And, Here is What She Said
This weekend my wife and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary by renting a country guest house on a small piece of land in Wimberley, TX. A few short weeks ago Wimberley was devastated by the recent floods that affected Oklahoma through Texas and left Houston underwater overnight. This weekend many of the residents simultaneously told us stories of disaster and triumph in the … [Read more...]
The One Reason I’m Terrified of Having Another Child With My Wife
My three year old son is a maniac - and I love him to death for it. Four years ago when my wife and I learned we were expecting our first child, we weren't jumping up and down for joy. We didn't plan for it, and felt our new blessing couldn't have come at more trying time in our relationship. We did what most couples do when they find themselves in that all too familiar … [Read more...]
5 Fundamental Truths About Marriage from a Regular Dude
I'm no relationship expert - I'm just a dude trying to be happily married. After almost of 10 years of trying, I'm understanding some fundamental truths about marriage that bind our experiences together. 1. The truth about marriage is that it's a general concept uniquely defined by the people in the situation. Everyone can tell you about marriage, but absolutely no one can … [Read more...]
5 Ways Parenthood Made Me a Better Husband
When my wife and I learned she was pregnant with our first child, the timing wasn't the best. Her and I were separated at the time, and each of us had much soul searching ahead of us to decide if our futures were going to be spent together or not. A baby wasn't in the plans. We were terrified. Did this mean we were introducing a child into a broken home? Should we stay … [Read more...]
What Every Husband Has in Common with Drake but Would Never Admit
I get up and go to work everyday - regardless of what's happening. I will make sure there is always a roof over our family's head and food on the table. I am the provider, and I take pride in the role. That doesn't mean I don't struggle with the weight of the title. I have high expectations of myself and those closest to me. Everytime I hear about a new country my wife … [Read more...]
6 Things that Happen at Home When Mommy Leaves for the Weekend
My wife likes to get away from the family. That's fine with me. Gives me time to my damn self after the little one is down. Plus, couples need time apart as absence makes the heart grow fonder - to a point. Too much time and you learn how to live without a person. Too much time without breaks leads to small infractions like attempted murder if untreated for years on end. So … [Read more...]
4 Necessary Relationship Skills that Help Work Past Conflict
Much like life itself, marriage is an emotional roller coaster. Happily Ever After is not an everyday concept. Happily Ever After comes after both the commitment and the work put in. The rough days are guaranteed on this road. I remember overhearing a friend of mine in an argument with his fiancé at the time. Her sobs poured through the phone through her jumbled words, but I … [Read more...]
Men Do Cry! The Last Three Times I Cried and Why
My wife is one of those, “Men should only cry when their mother dies” types. Her words, not mine. Luckily for her, she married a man who could count on one hand the number of times he cried in his life prior to marriage. Recently, my wife had an emotional episode [I’ll stop short of calling it crying] in front of me, and was embarrassed the following day. In the 9 years … [Read more...]
Welcoming the American Black Cambrian Explosion this Black History Month
The only constant is change. As we move into 2015 and the end of our country's first black president's eight year term, we are witnesses to much change in this country. Between increased tension with police and race relations, we teeter on the cusp of another enlightenment era. The American Black Experience This time the enlightenment will be hyper-focused on the American … [Read more...]
This One Simple Tool is Helping My Marriage Get Better Every Single Day
Getting better at anything in life takes an investment in time, effort, and resources. This is especially true of marriages. Going into 2015, my wife and I pledged to keep up our positive momentum in our marriage. Things haven't always been on the upswing with us, and we've teetered on the edge of divorce during one particular trench in our union. The trenches are … [Read more...]
5 Simple Ways to be an Awesome Superbowl Wife
For most red-blooded American men, Superbowl Sunday is almost sacred. A whole season's worth of trash talking and fantasy football frustrations end with the annual tradition of crowning one team the Kings of the Season. For many wives, it's a juvenile celebration of male testosterone and chicken wings, but it doesn't have to be this way. Want to make a lasting impression on … [Read more...]
Fatherhood Should Change You
The fatherhood instinct is real. To look upon your offspring and see yourself in their face, in their expressions, in their actions, and ultimately in their interpretation of the world is a daunting thing to come face to face with - every single day. And that's why true fatherhood is done with every interaction a father is lucky enough to have with their children. If you … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Grow with Your Spouse in 2015
Every new year is a new opportunity to maintain the status quo or purposefully grow in the direction you want to. Marriages that thrive have set the expectations for their lives. The husband and wife move with intent based on the goals they have set for themselves. The difference between them and you are communicated shared values, a goal, a plan, and the will to … [Read more...]