married
The most important four words for a successful marriage: 'I'll do the dishes.'
The Baker and the Witch
“Thank you miss, have a good evening.” A male customer smiled widely at Serena as he wheeled his grocery cart away from her. “You do the same.” She reluctantly retreated to the store’s bakery where she worked. The young woman finished cleaning up, flicked off the fluorescent lights, then headed up front to clock out and go home for the night. Forcing a smile and a courteous manner was very draining on her, it wasn’t that she was incapable of smiling and being friendly to people it was just her current state of mind. Serena has dealt with struggles and mental illness for most of her life and there’s only so long you can stay strong externally. As she started up her frosty cold car her mind swirled with worries and narratives from her day. She found herself feeling more and more resentful toward her coworkers and managers, but it wasn’t their fault, they’re all just pawns in the game like she was. This “real world” was too much for her, her soul yearned to travel, find refuge in nature and be free. Yet she felt incredibly stuck and like her dreams were a childlike fantasy. She drove home on autopilot, too distracted by her suffering to pay much attention to the repetitive details of her daily commute. As she shut her black car door, she noticed the bright shining reflection of the moon in the car paint. She turned around to look up at it. The moon had always brought her comfort, something about it felt very nurturing and safe. Serena could tell the moon all of her secrets, hopes and dreams and she would feel heard and understood in its silent presence. “Thank you for being there beautiful.” She smiled softly and felt at peace, her racing mind ceased, and a calm came over her body. With a sigh of relief, she headed up the stairs to her front door. Upstairs her family was warm and cozy playing video games. “Mommy!” a little boy set down the Xbox controller and ran up to serena with outstretched arms. “My big man! Did you have a good day?!” her face lit up and she embraced her son. “Yeah! Race!” he pulled her over to the desk where he was gaming. “You’re racing Emmie? Are you winning?” she joked, bending down to give her wife a big kiss and hug. Serena’s home life was the best it had ever been she was so blessed to have a loving partner and son, a warm home with plenty of food and entertainment to be had. And yet Serena and her wife Emily were barely scraping by and felt burnt out on the daily. They wondered together how other adults managed to live such full and rich lives, we’re making the most money we’ve ever earned and yet still living paycheck to paycheck. They were optimistic that together they could accomplish anything despite their hardships. That night they lay in bed together talking and cuddling. Emily turned to Serena and said, “If $20,000 fell from the sky tomorrow I would pay off my car loan and we would have so much more money to put into savings for our first home!” she giggled. Serena turned to Emily. “Okay, sounds good let’s do it!” she said with seriousness. She sat up in the dim light of their bedroom, “We already have that money. We already have our home. What we speak comes into existence.” Serena said matter of fact. “I read that if you say things like they’re already done that it can manifest it into existence. “Alright then. We paid off my car loan, saved up enough money to buy a house and property and are planning a trip to another country.” Emily said with a smirk and laced her fingers resting them on her abdomen. Serena gave her wife a warm smile and kissed her forehead before turning the light off for the night. “Sweet dreams.” They sweetly kissed goodnight.
By Amber Henninger5 years ago in Families
Marriage Rules of Engagement: Some Can Play More Than Others
Like most young girls, I went through my Prince Charming phase. I dreamed of the day some handsome, dream-worthy specimen would swoop in and carry me away for a royal wedding, and I would rule my kingdom. Fair but just (eye twinkle).
By Musing Around5 years ago in Families
Little black book
As the taxi pulled up to the house I was flooded with memories. This was only the 2nd time I had been here and yet it was connected to so much of my life. My past and now my future. The last time I was here was before I was married. My fiancé had brought me here for dinner and to meet his mother. Dinner was quiet, almost void of emotion. David had done most of the talking and it was about him more than anyone else. I was nervous and proud of him and so was glad he had taken control as it made it easier on me. I thought he had done so to be kind to me. After the meal I helped take dishes into the kitchen. We were alone and she said to me “don’t marry him. No one deserves that kind of cruelty” just then David came into the kitchen saying we had to leave and I wasn’t able to say anything to her. I thought all the way home ‘why would she stay such a thing? She doesn't even know me and nothing was said at dinner to make her think I was a horrible person’ Did David say something before about me to make her think I was so horrible for him?’ I asked him why his mother didn’t like me and he said, “oh I am sorry she gave you that impression. She has always been a difficult person. I don’t think she likes anyone. She doesn’t even have any close friends that I know of. She seems to push everyone away.” She came to the wedding but only for the service and didn’t stay for the reception. she never smiled once that I can remember and even the few pictures taken of her she wasn’t smiling. So I didn’t mind that my husband let me stay home when he went to visit her or deal with things for her.
By Gina Solomon5 years ago in Families
My Journey
I started college with a boyfriend who went to a college 6 hours away. High School sweethearts. We could make it work...right? Christmas 1994 and I found I couldn't reconcile our belief systems and that it just wasn't working. We agreed to be friends. I'm not sure exactly where he is 26 years later, but I still consider him a friend. I went back to school after winter break, with the idea to casually date. I had very few rules for what I was looking for, but one was that I didn't want to date and then marry a future preacher, because I didn't want preacher's kids. You can laugh. I laugh looking back on it. I went to a small (less than 500 people) Christian college. My odds were not great. Enter Christopher, who my roommate was crushing on hard. Bible major, cute, kind of opinionated and stubborn. I fell hard. So hard that I believed and he believed that he wasn't going to be a preacher. He wanted to teach at the University level. Cool. Little did we realize that Bible professors supplement their income preaching, and life happens.
By Deanna Jessee Stampfly5 years ago in Families
The Revealing
Henry Casille was walking down the street on his way to the park as was common for any pleasant spring morning in the quaint little community he lived in. It was important for him to get his exercise or at least that's what he was told at his last wellness checkup. As his phone vibrated, he reached into his pocket to examine it, all without stopping, to see that the message was from his wife, Mara. They had just celebrated their golden anniversary and were honored with a surprise party by their children and grandchildren. Henry smiled as he returned his phone to his pocket. Such a simple endearing text was typical of her, and it was consistent with the loving and loyal aspects of her character that he had enjoyed for all these years.
By Vince Coliam5 years ago in Families
What is Happiness?
I started reading my third book of the new year. It is called The Book of Joy : Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I am looking forward to completing this book because I am a Christian; however, I agree with a lot of Buddhist concepts. Buddhism is very much Christ-like anyway. These two incredible figures coming together to discuss Joy and ways to achieve it is just another amazing tool to utilize on the journey of bettering myself.
By Samantha Koch5 years ago in Families
no good deed goes unpunished
i wake as i do every morning, to the sound of my children, crying, nagging or begging for me to get out of bed and meet their demands and you, you sleep. my head hazy from our youngest child keeping me up all night, it’s been like this for three and a half years now, i wake and you, you sleep. so i make toast for the children and of course you, i do this while refereeing arguments and soothing tears, you wake to the smell of burned toast and look at me like i am worthless. i carry on cleaning, wiping, picking up, while you, you eat. time to get the children dress so we can leave you in peace. for you to work? Goodness no, you’re unemployed but you need space, rest and a break, from what? your past has become my presents burden, i live only to serve your needs and to suffer from the trauma you are unwilling to fix, to even try lessen, but we don’t talk about that. i’m not allowed to help you but i’m not allowed to leave you. Off to the park, i hope no one is there so our children can play without me having to hear other mothers discuss their husbands, their extensions of their homes, the new car they just upgraded too. We walk to the park everyday because we can afford nothing else. This is my fault, I should have considered these things before having kids you’d say, i guess i was wrong the egg must swim to the sperm. i smile at our kids and tell them how clever they are, i try to give them the love you sometimes can’t or won’t. a mother can’t be selfish like a father can. back home to make our children lunch and get them to sleep. they cry the whole walk home in the hot sun, they are in the shade and comfort of the pram while i push uphill with the sun pelting down on me, i’m optimistic and hopefully that the time on your own will make you softer when we return, i am wrong, our children’s cries annoy and frustrate you. i feed and get them to sleep as quickly as i can...i wake with a sick feeling in my stomach knowing you’ll be angry i accidentally fell asleep, this is the time you expect me to devote to you and your needs, meaning i sleep with you, wether i want to or not. i go and try to start things quickly but it’s too late you’re already pissed off. i won’t be able to talk to you until who knows when. i start on the washing and the folding, until i hear a cry and then it’s back to tending to our children. i will spend the afternoon entertaining our children, cleaning, picking up, nothing for myself. the night will be cooking, bathing and putting the children to sleep, laying in bed knowing it will all repeat again tomorrow, and the next day and the next. i will be your slave day after day and you, you will sleep.
By Ebony Kendall5 years ago in Families
Man Leaves His Wife After Finding N3.6m In Her Account And Their Son Died Because Of Hospital Bills
The woman speaks out. I just saw this story shared on TVC News and I have so many thoughts about it. I’m sure you’ll have so many thoughts about it. It is a wild story.
By Jide Okonjo5 years ago in Families
A marriage destined to fail
My father was a drug addicted alcoholic and my mother a battered housewife. I remember how anxious I got when 4 o'clock came around because I knew my father would walk thru the front door at any minute and only God knew what mood he would be in that day. If maybe that would be the day he finally killed my mother from a beating. My mother never did anything to get away from him, she just took each beating and stayed. At 5 years old I called the police because my father had beaten my mother so severely I thought he was for sure going to kill her. When the police arrived and asked if she wanted to press charges her answer was, "no." I remember something inside me breaking that day. I lost all respect for my mother and hated the feeling of helplessness that invaded me every time he hit her while I watched without being strong enough or big enough to defend her.
By Rocio S Romero5 years ago in Families
