Marriage, like any aspect of life, isn't immune to change. Often, we find ourselves in situations we didn't plan for, and that leaves couples feeling stuck or frustrated. But here's the good news: change is not only possible, it's inevitable. Your relationship is already different from what it once was, and that means it can continue to evolve—in a direction that brings you closer to what you truly desire.

Acknowledge the Current Situation

Before we dive into solutions, it's crucial to recognize and accept where you currently stand. This acknowledgment is the first step towards transformation. If your marriage isn't heading in the direction you'd hoped, it's time to pause and reconsider what you really want. What does an ideal marriage look like to you? Identifying this vision sets the stage for creating actionable steps.

Setting Your Desired Course

Once you've envisioned the kind of relationship you want, you can work backwards to figure out the necessary...

Rediscover the Joy of Intimacy: Transforming Your Marital Sex Life

In this episode, we're diving into a topic many find challenging yet significant—how to revitalize your sex life after entering marriage and motherhood. Our guest expert, Susan Bratton, breaks down some crucial insights that can help transform "I have to" into "I get to" when it comes to intimacy with your partner. Let's delve into how you can reignite that spark in your relationship!

Understanding Your Unique Sexual Needs

First things first, it's vital to recognize that feeling disconnected from your sex life doesn't mean something is wrong with you. Many women fall into the pattern of viewing sex as a chore rather than a source of pleasure. Factors such as hormonal changes, societal pressures, and lack of real sexual education contribute to this mindset. But here's the good news: understanding and embracing your unique sexual operating system can change everything.

It's Not About Meeting Obligations

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Embracing Hard Conversations for a Stronger Marriage

Navigating the complexities of marriage can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when confronting those hard, often uncomfortable conversations. It's so common to shy away from these tough talks, feeling a swirl of anxiety, fear, or even dread. You might find yourself thinking, "Why bother?" because the uncertainty of a positive outcome looms large. But here's the thing: conflict is inevitable in any close relationship. Whether it’s with your spouse, children, or even colleagues, disagreements are bound to surface because it's simply unrealistic to expect complete harmony at all times.

The key, though, is in how we handle these conflicts. Choosing to avoid them might seem tempting because it keeps us comfortable in the short term. However, this avoidance can lead to deeper issues, with growing resentment and prolonged discomfort. Instead, we can choose to confront these challenges head-on with the intent...

The Secret to a Stronger Marriage: Choose Connection Over Being Right

It's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to be right in our relationships, especially in marriage. After all, proving our point can feel so satisfying in the moment. But, as I've come to learn as a marriage coach, the real prize isn't in winning an argument – it's in nurturing a loving, connected relationship. In this quick read, let's explore how shifting from seeking victory to prioritizing partnership can transform your marriage.

You Can Be Right or You Can Have the Right Relationship

One of the biggest realizations I've had is this: in any conflict, you can either be right or have the right relationship. This doesn't mean you should become a doormat or always be wrong. It's about recognizing that in marriage, feeling connected and understood outweighs the temporary thrill of being right. It's the emotional intimacy that builds a strong couple, not the moments when one stands...

Balancing Ambition and Family: How to Avoid Burnout as a High Achiever

In today’s fast-paced world, balancing career aspirations with family commitments is a challenge for many. In a conversation with Katy Murray, we delved into the struggles and strategies of navigating ambition alongside a fulfilling family life. Here’s a peek into some key insights that can help you thrive personally and professionally without sacrificing one for the other.

The Art of Slowing Down

For many high achievers, the notion of slowing down seems counterintuitive. However, embracing a more mindful pace is essential for sustaining energy and avoiding burnout. Rather than racing to tick off every item on a never-ending to-do list, take a moment to breathe, reflect, and prioritize. This intentional pause helps you align your actions with your core values and goals, fostering a fuller, richer life.

Scheduling Downtime

A chief takeaway from our discussion is the importance of...

Navigating Marriage: Turning Conflict into Connection

This episode is about embracing imperfection, the strength of vulnerability, and how practicing what I preach to my clients and my community can transform relationships. Let's dive into an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at how one can apply principles of understanding and calm even in frustrating moments.

Facing Frustration: Recognizing Patterns

Marriage isn’t perfect, and for many of us, it's a continual learning path. At times, we face disappointment and unmet expectations, especially when juggling responsibilities. With one partner deeply immersed in work and the other managing a business, stress levels can rise when communication falters.

A Familiar Scenario: Juggling Responsibilities

Imagine the scene: hectic weekdays where one drops off and picks up kids, balancing between dance classes and school pickups. Tuesdays were meant for a shift in routine—where my husband covers the pickup....

Navigating Anger in Marriage: Turning Arguments into Conversations

In this episode, we're diving into how recognizing and understanding emotional patterns can transform arguments into more productive conversations, ultimately fostering growth in our marriage.

Understanding Emotional Patterns

Let’s be honest, no one wakes up hoping to have an argument with their spouse. In fact, most of us hope for smooth sailing each day, desiring progress rather than setbacks in our relationships. Recognizing our emotional patterns is a pivotal step toward achieving that. Once we understand the habitual ways we react during conflicts, we can begin to navigate them more effectively. These patterns often form as protective responses, but they don’t always serve our best interests.

Teaching Our Children Emotional Management

Our emotions heavily influence our daily interactions, so it's crucial to handle them wisely. This is especially important as parents, as our children...

Marriage and motherhood can be challenging, but achieving growth and improvement doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, simple, foundational steps can lead to remarkable changes. Here, we're going to discuss a transformative two-step process that can rejuvenate your marriage, streamline your life, and help you become the parent you aspire to be.

Step 1: Establish a Vision

One of the fundamental questions I ask anyone considering working with me is: "What is it that you are wanting?" Many people struggle to articulate their desires, often focusing on what they don't want rather than what they do want. But without a clear vision, it's nearly impossible to see progress.

Your vision is not about psychic abilities but a crystal-clear picture of the future you desire. It includes every facet of life—your marriage, your parenthood journey, your personal development, your relationships, and your career goals. Having this vision simplifies decision-making. Anytime you're...

Understanding Boundaries Versus Ultimatums: Strengthening Relationships Through Respect and Communication

Welcome back to another episode, in this episode I got to dive deep into the complexities of boundaries versus ultimatums in relationships with fellow marriage coach, Nevart Willborn. Together, we explored how these concepts can either strengthen or damage a marriage depending on the implementation.

What Are Boundaries and Ultimatums?

We first kicked off the discussion with the definitions and nuances of boundaries and ultimatums. A boundary is essentially a way to teach others how to treat us by expressing our needs and limits. A boundary is about helping others understand what we need and implementing a healthy response when those needs are not met.

On the other hand, an ultimatum often comes across as a final demand or a non-negotiable condition. Nevart highlights the key difference: "An ultimatum is rooted in control. It's a statement where...

Welcome back to another episode of The Marriage and Motherhood Podcast. This topic was inspired by a post I stumbled on in a Facebook group. A woman was asking if sleeping in separate rooms would hurt the marriage. 

Rest or Romance?

A woman in the group shared her problem: she and her husband have trouble sleeping together due to conflicting sleep habits. From taking up too much space to noisy disturbances. Although they have a fantastic relationship outside the bedroom, the poor sleep quality was leading to resentment.

Her main concern? Social norms. The idea of sleeping in separate rooms seemed drastic, and she wondered if it would drive them toward divorce.

Challenging Social Norms

If you’ve been following along with my content, you know that I’m an advocate for challenging social norms. Every marriage is unique, and what works for one couple might not work for another. The concept of following societal expectations blindly can often hinder...