You both seem to really be living out your dreams and accomplishing your goals. How do you really make it possible to still find time for each other in the midst of the kids and everything else?

Chris: I think we really have to make an effort, we have to shut down everything that we have going on. And I’m guilty of having put the kids ahead of her. I had one point in time when Erika and I were having a conversation and one of the kids said something to us. I listened to the kids, and that was wrong but she pointed it out to me. The wife is supposed to come before our children.

But we do make it a point to be affectionate towards our children, in front of our children. We think that’s important for them to see that affection between a husband and a wife.

Erika: We also make it a point to hire a sitter to come in to give us some time to get away from the house, and away from all that we’re dealing with at work or everyday life, and just be with each other.

BMWK: So Erika, what makes Chris smile?

Erika: [laughs] Chris smiles when he knows that he’s appreciated, loved and cared for, or when something is done just for him. To know that his kids are well and they’re doing good…kids are everything to him and that makes him smile. Is that a good answer Chris?

Chris: We’ll leave it at that [laughs].

BMWK: That’s all that we’ll put in the interview right?

[All laugh]

BMWK: So Chris, what makes Erika’s heart melt?

Chris: Definitely when she feels appreciated, when she’s recognized , complimented of course or  just let her know that I’m thinking about her and that I love her…that makes her smile. Taking care of all of her needs and just understanding that I have her back.

BMWK: I love it! That just made me smile!

Erika: Yeah the support makes me smile and to see your interaction with the kids makes me smile…that makes me happiest of all because I didn’t have that growing up. The first thing that came to mind was his ability to be a great father because I feel like I did make a good choice [laughs].

BMWK: You did make an excellent choice Erika [laughs]!  What do you guys want for your children to know when you look back thirty years from now?

Erika: I want them to see that no matter what, family comes first. Number two is that they can have control of their destiny in a sense where if you want to start a business then you can. You just have to figure out how to be innovative. I want them to be able to think and to be able to make a life for themselves, and not have to be reliant upon somebody else.

Chris: I agree with all of that. I would want to leave all that Erika said as well as a successful loving marriage. Sticking together through hard times, not blaming but just coming up with a plan on how we’re going to get through it. I think that it’s important that Erika and I stuck together because she held down the fort [after I lost my job at Georgia State].  We want them to see us putting God first in all that we do because we pray in front of them, we pray for them, we allow them to lead the prayer, and they love it.

BMWK: Wow that is really inspiring.

Do you guys have any upcoming projects or advice that you want to share?

Erika: For me, I would hope that other women who have become mothers and feel overwhelmed with their newfound responsibilities of being a mom, of being a wife to know that they’re not alone. And that the feeling that they have is not foreign, but they won’t ever know unless they’re being transparent with someone else. I know it’s more common for white women to go to therapy before we will go, because of the stigma attached to that, but it’s the best thing that I’ve ever done. It’s helped me to cope during stressful times and not feel like you’re about to lose your mind.

Chris: Yes, I started another organization that is launching probably the end of the year called God’s Men United. There are a lot of men that don’t go to church because of the traditional way that church is, so we get away from that. It’s just another form of ministry showing men how to live the way God intended us to live. It’s almost like a brotherhood.

A big thank you and shout out to Chris and Erika for taking time to share their story with us. You can connect with Erika on Twitter and Facebook, and Chris can be found through the Transition Awareness Program.

BMWK: Be sure to leave some words of encouragement for this Power Couple in the comments section.