by Tara Pringle Jefferson
Dear Tara,
Congratulations on the wedding! It was beautiful – I know you were pretty much blind the whole day because you didn’t have time to put your contacts in, but trust me, everything was goregous.
You made a beautiful bride, and now it’s time to tell you how to become a beautiful wife. I know, I know – you think you have it all together. But there are some lessons you should learn sooner rather than later. It will save you a lot of heartache.
1. You two are a team. I can hear you now saying, “I already know that.” But do you really know that? Do you really understand what this means? When “two becomes one” is not just some cutesy saying. It’s a reality. All problems that come up need to be solved as a team. What hurts you hurts him and vice versa.
2. Love is always necessary. Give more than you expect to receive in order to get as much as you deserve. In other words, quit keeping score. He loves you and you love him. Concentrate on giving him all the love you have and worry a lot less about how much love he’s slinging back. He’s a great man and he will love you the best way he knows how if you give him a chance.
3. It’s okay to take the cape off. I know you feel a lot of pressure to be Superwoman: cook dinner every night, keep the laundry to a minimum, pay the bills and still have energy for um, nighttime activities. But no one is holding you to these expectations – they are all in your head. You are a wonderful person and everyone knows this. There’s nothing to prove. Keep doing your part, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Here’s a tip to get you started: Ask your husband to fold the clothes while he watches football on Sundays. He’ll be happy to do it.
BMWK family, what advice would you give yourself as a newlywed?
Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer and blogger living in Ohio with her husband and two children. Visit her blog, www.theyoungmommylife.com, to read more of her observations about life, motherhood and love.