How Can You Dust Off Your Back-to-School Dreams?
February 28, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 3 Comments
By Dawn Papandrea, Managing Editor, CollegeSurfing.com, @CollegeSurfing
If you’re home caring for young children, chained to your office desk, or live in the boondocks far away from the nearest university, going back to school is probably the dustiest item on your massive to-do list. It’s been long buried by the piles of family obligations, 60-hour work weeks, and time and space limitations that manifest themselves. Let’s face it — life sometimes gets in the way of your educational goals. But achieving those goals can improve your quality of life and income potential. A vicious Catch 22…
Thanks to technology, though, you can be in two places at once. Really! The proof lies with the millions of online learning graduates out there who’ve attended classes between diaper changes or conference calls. Today’s students are quite lucky to have this quality learning platform that basically didn’t exist even 10 years ago. Yes, my friends, online learning has come a long way — better quality, way more acceptance in the workplace and in academia, and many more reputable colleges and universities offering a wide variety of programs than ever before. In fact, it’s estimated that two-thirds of higher education institutions offered distance education courses in 2006-2007, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Before you take the plunge into cyber learning…
- Be sure you make time to research the programs you’re considering. Your first step should be to verify that the school of choice is accredited (you wouldn’t want to invest in a “fake” degree).
- Think about your individual learning style, and whether or not it will be conducive to the way the program of study is designed. Remember, you’ll have to motivate yourself to log on and get your assignments done — there will be no micromanaging teacher over your shoulder. But really, when you think about it, adults are already used to this type of individual accountability since it’s not much different than how you’re expected to perform at work.
- Consider the financial perks. There aren’t any commuting or child care costs to tack on since your home (or wherever you are) is your classroom. And in most cases, expensive textbooks aren’t needed since everything is usually done online via message boards, email, and even real-time class sessions. By the way — the vast majority of accredited online programs offer the same type of financial aid opportunities as traditional classroom programs do.
- If you’re computer savvy enough to read this blog, you’re tech-ready for online learning. Advanced computing skills are not required. However, be prepared to brush up your writing and communication skills, as that will be the primary way for you to interact with your classmates and professors.
What do you think? If going back to school is something you’ve been wanting to move up on your to-do list, online learning is definitely worth some thought.
Join us to discuss moms back at school on Twitter.com, March 2nd, from 9 p.m. -11 p.m. EST. RSVP with Mr Linky in sidebar, and use the hashtag #GNO in your Tweets. And, see Moms Back at School right now for specific resources just for you.
Mamas Afternoon Out With Mom It Forward
February 28, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 1 Comment
Add a Little Extraordinary to Your Life
As a mom, do you ever feel like you are pulled in a million directions? Struggle to balance the many roles you play? Wish you had a parent’s guidebook tailored to each of your children’s needs and personalities? Want to give back and make a difference, but don’t feel like you have the time or ways to do it?
If you answered yes to even one of these questions, you are not alone! As women and mothers, we are all walking on, what sometimes feels like an unsteady tight rope, trying to find that perfect balance and reach our many expectations.
The good news? The tasks we perform—you know, the ones we feel are merely ordinary—are more times than not, extraordinary. Or, with a little help and inspiration, can be!
What’s on the Lineup?
Click here to RSVP and join Mom It Forward, other Salt Lake City moms, and these speakers Thursday, March 12 at The Melting Pot for savory bites, motivating bits of information, bunches of inspiration, bounteous networking opportunities, and incredible prizes to help you put the extraordinary in, what sometimes feels like, just an ordinary life:
- Changing the World One Mom at a Time: The Mom It Forward Mission—Carissa Rogers, mom of 3, owner of Apricot a Lot, and co-founder of Mom It Forward; Jyl Johnson Pattee, mom of 2 and co-founder of Mom It Forward
- The Balancing Act of Motherhood: Setting Realistic Expectations—Rachael Herrscher, mom of 3, author of the Utah Mama’s Handbook, and CEO of Today’s Mama
- Raising Happy and Successful Children: Taking It Up a Notch by Taking It Down a Notch—Muffy Mead Ferro, mom of 2, author of the best-seller Confessions of a Slacker Mom and Confessions of a Slacker Wife, which have been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, and in The New York Times, USA Today, and the Washington Post, and on NPR’s Talk of the Nation in addition to other media outlets. She has recently finished a third book, One Foot in Wyoming, and writes a monthly column for the website Today’s Mama.
- The Difference One Mom Can Make: Empowering Women in Kenya—Rainee Baldwin, mom of 2, production manager at US Synthetic, and volunteer extraordinaire at The Pope Foundation
What’s In It for Me?
We recognize taking two hours of of your busy schedules is a serious time investment. Here’s the return we can promise on that investment:
- A delicious lunch from The Melting Pot
- Networking with other amazing moms
- Motivational content from our guest speakers
- The chance to win one of many prizes
Be sure to share this with your friends! Also, if you own a business and would like to sponsor a table, please contact us at momitforward [at] gmail [dot] com.
This event is sponsored by Today’s Mama and The Melting Pot!
What’s the Blogger PR Secret?
February 27, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 4 Comments
In case you missed Mom It Forward’s #GNO this week?
I’ll be pounding a redbull at 8:59 pm EST, cracking my knuckles and getting ready for Speed Tweeting at #gno tonight!
You missed a Doozy! It was an action packed panel of PR Maven Extraordinares!
Nancy Martira from Ketchum
Barbara Jones from One2One Networking
Krista Parry from Park City Mountain Resort
Rachael Herrscher from Today’s Mama
What’s the secret to making contact with PR professionals, and what really bugs them?
This seems obvious but don’t make me search thru your blog to find oiut how to contact you—It’s a crazy goose chase sometimes! —Barbara Jones
The panelists all had some great advice when it came to how to contact a PR Professional. They all agreed, first, make it easy for the company to contact YOU! And a media kit is something you should look into. Here’s an example you can look over from Mom Blogger’s Club. Also a subscription to ListPlanIt.com comes with several templates and PR ‘lists’.
If your email sounds like you are just looking for free stuff, chances are it will end up in the spam folder. —Nancy Martira
When contacting a company or a PR rep., or even just chatting on twitter with a possible connection remember that they are just like you! They get tons of email and have a lot coming at them. The consensus was that you should send short emails, asking first whether you can send an attachment or a longer email. And yes you can send a ‘ping’, but calling them over and over or too much email isn’t a good idea!
What are these professionals looking for? Do I have what they want?
Blog stats aren’t the only thing companies are interested in. They want to know what you can do for them in all your Social Media outlets. Remember reporting to the client is the job of the PR professional, so you will need to share some amount of your information to make a legitimate pitch.
Traffic numbers are not the only metrics–promote your social media footprint on twitter, facebook, etc—Barbara Jones
Not every PR campaign is promoting a product, sometimes we’re selling ideas. That’s when great writers can shine.—Nancy Martira
Okay I just got an email from a representative of a company! Now what?
I say PR is not Public Relations it is PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS—Krista Parry
Bottom line? Don’t be afraid to ask them questions, find out more about the product, more about what it is they want to get out the relationship. Share ideas you have for helping them get the word out. Feel free to brainstorm a little with them, they are going to appreciate new ideas, and be willing to listen to their thoughts too!
Think about diversifying your online presence – podcast, video blogging, product review blogs, etc… —Nancy Martira
Why PR needs bloggers? Because PR is storytelling and who can tell stories better than bloggers?—Danny Brown
If you want to host a product review, show me an example of a successful one you have already hosted.—Nancy Martira
Barbara Jones has been quoted as saying ROO is more important than ROI… What does that mean? ROO= return on objective. What is your objective as a blogger? What is the objective of the company or the agency? Try come up with innovative ways to fulfill those goals.
To Mom It Forward Members:
John Sternal has offered up his Public Relations ebook at a 20% discount (code: GNO). From examples of press kits to ‘real’ knowledge everything you’ll need to perform PR for your business.
Oh my gosh, I got the deal! I don’t want to screw it up! What makes a good review, article, campaign?
That’s a great way to start. Show them that you really know and love the product; you’re not just looking for a freebie.—Nancy Martira
The panelists really say it well here:
- You know the media will do stories on things like St. Patricks Day and daylight savings time. So build stories around them!—John Sternal
- I always like for the blogger to be authentic in their review. I don’t like when it looks like a copy and paste from email. I brought a blogger out to Park City and some of their review was negative and that’s ok. It’s honest. —Krista Parry
- PR people are looking for people who resonate with their brands. So make sure you understand their brands just like they should w/ you. —Krista Parry
- What bugs me is saying you’ll do the review or the promotion and then half a**ing it–Hi I’m giving away X, leave a comment-ugh—Barbara Jones
What should I do if I’m approached about a product/item/service but it’s not a good fit for me?
Pay It Forward–If you get approached by PR, and the situation is not for you, suggest another blogger who could do it!! —Barbara Jones
Think of every email and phone call as an opportunity to create a relationship, even if the product/service/item isn’t something you can get behind.
If a blogger I respect points me towards another blogger I will absolutely check them out. I often ask for recommendations. One of the things I love about the Mom Blogging community is how supportive and connected they are. When you connect me with a great new partner, it reflects well on you. Never hesitate to call out good work!—Nancy Martira
Everyone knows someone out there – it helps a ton to be able to say “So and so referred me” – it gets a lot of response. Share your contacts with each other – nothing wrong with asking “do you know anyone at XYZ media outlet.”—Rachael Herrsher
Cathy aka CathyWebSavvyPR answered the question:
What quick information would a PR pro love to find on a Mommy Blogger’s site?
PR people are hoping to find a match between our client/company/expert’s product or info and your reader’s interests and needs. The type of information a PR pro hopes to find on your site, includes:
A good About Us page, telling briefly what you and your site are all about (intro to the site and how it works, who your readers are, what niche do you reach, and who the sites author(s) are). A good PR Info page also tells us more reader demographics along with some site statistics/numbers (Readers surveys using survey monkey, and pollcast can provide some info; site stats like Google Analytics, twitter counter, Feedburner RSS reader stats, Quantcast, Clicky and Hubspot Site Grader can help with the numbers).
Also useful are sections on how you like to work: what you will do to publicize the promotion, what you need from us, and notes any success stories you’ve had (some of this can also be indicated is on a document that we can request – if your readers don’t need to know the details.)
At it’s best PR/blogger promotions – whether product reviews and giveaways or book promo tours and guest blog posts from experts – can be a win-win situations. To read more you can see the rest of Cathy’s article here.
How Can PR Help You Get Coverage for Your Blog and Your Business?
February 27, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 1 Comment
Rachael Herrscher guest posts today. Rachael spends her time managing TodaysMama as co-founder and President. TodaysMama, LLC, is a fast-growing online marketing and publishing company for moms of all ages. TodaysMama is currently in 19 markets across the United States and has more than 75,000 handbooks in circulation with more to come in 2009.
My approach to PR has always come from a “wingin’ it” perspective. I am not a PR pro – but have done a lot of the public relations and strategic planning for our company and we’ve had some good success with the tactics we’ve used.
Thanks to everyone for such a rockin’ GNO Tuesday night!
One of the biggest things for anyone is just getting out there, asking questions, and networking with the right people – a.k.a. making friends. I was asked to blog for Entrepreneur.com from that perspective – here are a few of the posts that might be helpful for those of you without a big budget who are looking to jump out there to get some coverage for you and your business but who are a little hesitant!
- This week our featured blog was Cafe Johnsonia – seriously watch out when you go there you will get hungry!
- Our Dream Big story is amazing about a women who “made over” women’s shelters –
- Our featured “mompreneur” on Support Your Local Mama is Modern Mommy
- and we’ve even got a good “crafty” blogger roundup!
We’d love to highlight you too! Tips for pitching our editor? No need for a press release – We LOVE short, direct emails with links for more info. Good luck in ALL your pitching!
What is PR?
February 25, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 8 Comments
Krista Parry guest posts. She was born a communicator, speaking from an early age, but professionally she’s been passionate about it for over 10 years. She has learned that PR is not public relations it’s personal relationships. Currently she work as the Director of Marketing and Communications for Park City Mountain Resort, a top-five rated ski resort located in Park City, Utah, and is the resident mama of www.snowmamas.com . She is joining the Mama ranks in May when she and her husband welcome their first child.
This post is for bloggers looking to reach out to companies or media that align with their brand. I believe PR = Personal Relationships because that is what it is. You may be saying “but I’ve never done PR, I don’t know what to do.” My response would be “Have you ever engaged someone in a conversation?” That is what PR is. It is about engaging a company/journalist in a conversation.
As a PR professional for over 10 years I have had a lot of experience and I must say, that I have had to evolve with the times. 10 years ago I wasn’t reaching out to bloggers, as they really didn’t exist. Now, I mostly focus on outreach to bloggers because I know that they have a big “Sphere of Influence” (more on this later).
How do I start a conversation? Seek them out in the community’s where you are. Let’s say you love to ski (as I know you all do!) and you would like to reach out to ski resort to see how you can work with them. Use the search.twitter.com tool and search your favorite resort. Say you type in “park city” and find @snowmamas @reply and say how you love Park City. Build up that relationship first, because remember that is what PR is.
Why would a company want to work with you? Because you can help them share their story. I have shared this before, but it’s worth sharing again. David Armano, a genius in my mind, created an “Influence Ripples” chart. Basically, you as a blogger, have a sphere of influence that has a ripple effect. You may have 10,000 followers or you may have 10 followers, either way these people trust you. And if they trust what you are saying, they are going to share it with their “sphere of influence” and so on. The ripple effect keeps going and going.
How do you prove your ripple effect? First, it is true that some companies are not as “educated” on social media and they may just want your #’s like Unique Visitors. Yes, number are nice, but this is your chance to educate them. First, Google Analytics is a must. If you don’t have it, you must get it. It’s free! There is so much great information that you can track with it and it creates really cool graphs/charts. You can get your unique visitors, page views, etc. But you can also drill down into your readers engagement. What’s the Avg time on site? Are people staying for 10 seconds or are they engaged with your content and staying for 10 minutes?
Second, comments on posts show engagement. I heard it tonight, and I’ve heard it before, but please leave comments on someone’s post that you’ve enjoyed. It’s ok to twitter them and say how you loved their post but complete the circle and comment on their post as well. Comments show that your readers are engaged in what you say and that they trust you and your opinions, which is important for our third point.
Use ”corporate” jargon like ROI but don’t use it in the “Return on Investment” sense. Use it in the “Return on Influence” speak. Show your ROI to a company. If a company sees that your readers/listeners are engaged in what you say they will want to work with you.
But what is the most important thing? Be authentic! Work with the brands that are true to you. If you hate dogs (not that you would) don’t agree to do something for Purina Dog Food. Your readers know you, which is why they love you, and they want to see your opinions on brands you really would use!
Have fun and make new friends! PR people are no different than the ladies you meet at #gno every Tuesday night (ok maybe our fangs come out at night)! Start a conversation, you might be surprised what could come of it.
I am happy to answer any questions you might have. DM me at @krista_parry anytime.
Giveaway Winners Reap the Rewards of Service!
February 25, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · Leave a Comment
On Tuesday, January 27, Mom It Forward launched a giveaway. The requirement? To plan and carry out a service project or random act of kindness and vlog, blog, or submit a photo of it. And who says service doesn’t pay off? Not only for the recipients of these kind acts, but for those that thoughtfully planned and carried out the service.
Thanks to all those that participated and in your own way, helped change the world one mom at a time. Drum roll please as we announce the winners! Be sure to click on their links, check out their entries, and be inspired (you’ll want to break out the tissue for this first video)!
Giveaway 1
HP Mini 1535NR Laptop Specs
Winner: Jenna Hatfield from Stop, Drop, and Blog
Giveaway 3
Muvee Reveal Movie Editing Software Package
Winners: Kia Brandy, Holly, Military Moms, Gwynne, Therese, Amy, and Barb.
Thanks to Sugar Jones from Sugar Jones in the Raw for awarding Mom It Forward winners of the HP Magic Giveaway. These prizes are part of that package and this giveaway is an effort to spread the HP Magic and the spirit of service and giving even further.
For our next giveaway, we are partnering with the Park City Mountain Resort. Check out the amazing prize and rules for entry here or here. This time the tables are turned and you get to do the giving. Simply nominate a person that has made a big difference in your life or who, you feel, is the definition of a Mom It Forward mom, and she could win a family vacation in Park City, UT!
Win a Free Park City Mountain Resort Summer Vacation Package!
February 23, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · Leave a Comment
The Giveaway Prize
Think of a person who has made a big difference in your life. Someone that embraces the Mom It Forward mission. Someone that lifts others, has overcome challenges with a smile, is a positive force for good, or just makes your world a better place. This person can be an on or offline friend. Perhaps a blogger who has inspired you. Or someone who is always tweeting the nicest things to people. Or a person that makes your day through their posts on your Facebook wall. It could be an IRL friend—someone in your community, a family member, a neighbor, or anyone that deserves a reward and some recognition for being a wonderful person.
Now think of this person enjoying a free summer vacation—on you!—with his or her family in the mountains of Utah at the Park City Mountain Resort. We’re not just talking any vacation, we’re talking an all-expenses-paid vacation, including the following for a family of 6:
- Lodging for 6 (3 nights, 4 days) in a 2-bedroom, 5-star condo
- Dinner vouchers for 3 nights for the entire family
- Resort Passes good for 3 days, including a wide range of family activities such as a climbing wall, an Alpine Slide, a Human Maze, miniature golfing, a Zip Rider, mountain biking and hiking, and more
Now think of how good you’ll feel when you win this giveaway FOR this person and get to Mom It Forward to him or her! The giveaway that is meant to be given away.
The Giveaway Entry Requirements
Please follow these rules to enter the giveaway.
- Leave a comment with your name and an e-mail address where we can reach you.
- In your comment, write a short description of the person you feel deserves this free summer vacation and how he or she embraces the Mom It Forward mission. (Click here for more information on Mom It Forward.)
- Submit your entry by midnight on Tuesday, March 17.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 24 on the SnowMamas blog, the Mom It Forward blog, and during #gno on twitter.
The Fine Print
- You may only enter once. People that enter more than once will be disqualified.
- You may only enter for one person.
- You may not enter for yourself. The purpose of this giveaway is to Mom It Forward!
- Transportation to Utah, to the resort, or at the resort is not included.
- Breakfast and lunch are not included.
- Dinner vouchers and resort passes are good for a family of 6, including children.
- Vacation giveaway must be used between June 1 to September 30, 2009.
- Vacation giveaway is transferable, but may not be sold.
- All information will be verified and judged by a panel.
- The panel makes the final decision regarding the giveaway’s winner.
- Relatives of the panel will not be considered in this giveaway.
For more information regarding this giveaway, please e-mail us at momitforward [at] gmail [dot] com.
Developing PR Relationships to Build Your Blog & Online Business
February 22, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 12 Comments
How Can I Work With PR Professionals to Build My Blog & Business?
All these questions and more answered at Mom It Forward’s #GNO Tues.!
I want to build relationships with PR professionals, but I’m not sure know how to connect. What’s the secret?- What’s the difference between traditional and online PR? How does SEO factor in to the mix?
- I use social media technologies to get the word out about my business. Why would I need to develop relationships with PR professionals?
- What information do people in PR want to access on my blog or website?
- What tools are available to me for writing PR-related content?
(Photo courtesy of Flickr.)
What’s on the GNO Lineup This Week?
- What: GNO (What’s GNO? Click here to find out!)
- Where: Tweet Grid (#gno)
- When: From 6 to 10 pm PST (9 pm to 1 am EST)
- Who: Guest panelists,
Krista from Park City Mountain Resort @krista_parry),
Nancy Martira from Ketchum (@nancy_martira),
Barbara Jones from one2onenetwork (@barbarajones)
and Rachel Herrscher from Today’s Mama (@todaysmama). - Topic: Developing Relationships With PR Professionals!
- RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jyl_momIF).
Important: Want to win big? Enter to win our giveaway for a summer vacation to Park City Mountain Resort. Entries due Tues., Mar. 17.
What To Do When Your Spouse Is Deployed?
February 21, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 1 Comment
Deployments Are Never Completely Easy
Communication, romance, little touches of flirtations here and there, smiles, holding hands, cuddling, and little looks that say I’m thinking about you are all important things to keep a relationship not only alive, but thriving. What do you do when you can’t have 
that? Military couples face particular difficulty when their partners, themselves, or even both are deployed overseas for extended periods of time. I am not talking weeks or months here. I am talking years.
For some relationships, especially the newer ones, this transition is particularly difficult and even painful. A person goes through a lot during the course of a year, or even 6 months. New interests, new jobs, maturing, new schedules, and one’s ever-growing independence. When your significant other is gone for months, let alone years, it is difficult for both of you to mesh your now very different perspectives, interests, and even work and school into this relationship that has basically been put on hold for a very long time.
You may say that with today’s technologies communication should be easy through that time, but it’s not. Granted it is much easier than it was for earlier vets, but just because you can send emails, IMs, and even the occasional web-cam session, it is difficult to keep the romance alive.
Your decision to marry was not a one-time matter, but is something that needs to be reaffirmed daily, weekly, monthly and annually. This includes the time that is spent apart due to deployments, and can often be more important than when living under the same roof. Make a game plan for staying connected, and try to do the best you can for your family. Sneak a small scrapbook, or photo “brag” book into his deployment bags. This goes a long way to lifting the spirits when he is so far away. Write often, even about the mundane and boring things. Start right away, so there is nothing forgotten, this helps him feel he is still a part of the family’s daily life, even from round the world. Don’t be afraid to complain (he wants to hear the truth and what is real, not sugar and spice) but let him know you are OK, and begin and end every time you get to talk with I LOVE YOU.
When both spouses firmly believe that marriage is a life-long commitment and they work together to strengthen that commitment, their chances of surviving even the most difficult challenges posed by military life are significantly enhanced.
Military deployments are planned in stages, and reflecting on each phase can better prepare you for the anxiety that will be introduced into the relationship. Deployments consist of the following stages in one form or another: Pre-deployment, deployment, and redeployment. It behooves us as spouses to be familiar with these phases and the emotional turmoil each can bring. A plan that mirrors each stage of the deployment may help to make the deployment more manageable.
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Speak about expectations… During pre-deployment don’t let shock and separation anxiety let you say things you don’t mean. Discuss decision making, parenting issues, and expectations for communicating during the separation. Make a budgeting plan, update insurance forms, power of attorney documents, etc.
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Demonstrate your strength… It is important to take good care of yourself so that you can manage the stress during the deployment. Taking care of yourself actually eases your service member’s mind so send a note demonstrating your strength and commitment to each other.
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Express your love…Stock up on favorite foods and the comforts of home. This is a time to enjoy each other, re-kindle, and reconnect. Focus on why you initially fell in love with your spouse and don’t forget to express it.
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Tackle what’s next…During the post-deployment phase try not to get caught up in unrealistic or unexpressed expectations as you get back into a new routine. Appreciate what is going well, and be willing to comfort each other and make compromises when needed as you go forward. Remind yourself not to look back, or worry about going forward just enjoy each other in the moment!
How Do You Support Your Spouse?
February 20, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 29 Comments
Betty (@its_me_betty), today’s guest post author, is a wife of a blogger, mother of one son, and has a little fat beagle named Fred. She enjoys helping her husband promote his blog, TheJoeReview. Every Saturday he posts one of my recipes on his blog & also writes about tech & brew reviews.
As little girls I am sure we all dreamed that one day we would marry our clichéd “knight in shining armor,” ride off into the sunset, and live happily ever after. We believed that nothing would go wrong and our lives would mirror a fairy tale. This is the way I saw it at least. Well, I got part of it at right. I married my knight in shining armor, however; life wasn’t as problem-free as I had anticipated. My husband and I have had many obstacles and challenges to deal with.
The most challenging obstacle we faced was when we were expecting our son. I became very ill and we almost didn’t make it. My husband stuck by me through the whole ordeal and when I was shipped to a different state because, at that time, there were no rooms at the NICU in our local hospital, he made it a point to go up and see me every weekend. I am sure he was just as scared as I was, but you could never tell; he was my rock through the whole ordeal. I broke down several times and was very devastated to learn that I might not get to know my son. But my husband kept me grounded. I am eternally grateful.
One of the most important lessons Joe and I have learned is to be there for each other and support each other—to be each other’s fan club. There are in fact times when we don’t see eye to eye; but I can always count on him being the one person I can rely on no matter what. The lines of communication need to be kept open. Listen to each other, be honest with each other and don’t be ashamed to admit when you’re wrong.
Remember to make time for each other and to make each other feel special. It’s just like a hobby—the more time you put into it, the better you get at it. It goes both ways; you can’t expect one person to do all the work and put in all the effort. I’m sure you’ve heard that saying, “Treat others as you would like to be treated,” this also applies to your marriage. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to show each other you love each other and that you still get butterflies when they’re around or when they kiss or hug you, it’s little things like that, that go a long way.
With all the things we are faced with these days, our marriage is one thing that we need to work on keeping strong. Together everything and anything is possible.
photo credit FairyWren
