We’ve talked about several aspects of splitting up household duties. Here are a few more things to consider. The division of chores should be an ongoing dialogue. Any new system will need tweaks, and you may discover new things about what is important to you or your spouse. That’s OK. As we said …
What is Fair?
There won’t be any equitable division of chores unless everything is accounted for! As we mentioned in the previous post, that includes “keeping financial records, home maintenance, shopping, planning, cleaning, cooking, childcare, transportation, etc.” (Stritof, 2020). Petriglieri, author of …
Discussing Chores
When the time comes to ask your spouse for more involvement in the household chores, there are some important things to consider. It’s helpful to gain clarity yourself so that you will be able to speak with “I” statements. Ask yourself how you perceive the current situation: is it a lack of …
Expressing Needs
Expressing your needs might seem to be a simple thing—and it is if you take ownership of them and do only that. This is not to say it’s always easy to state directly and simply what you need. Some of the most important things about expressing our needs are what we need to leave out! Use “I” …
How to Disagree and Argue
Disagree? Argue? Are these even things we should be doing? The answer isn’t a pat ‘yes’ or ‘no’—it depends on how you are arguing or disagreeing. Arguing in a healthy way can strengthen your marriage and deepen your relationship with your spouse. The author of the best-selling book Crucial …
Communication
Every marriage needs good communication. If you or your spouse are unhappy in or with the marriage, this will be communicated in some way … attitudes, body language, decisions, even lack of communication—so why not communicate openly and honestly about what is difficult for you? Communication is …