Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, it's so funny how some parts of the newborn phase have been like muscle memory and others have been like we've had our first born all over again. 

We were worried about how David and Evy would feel with this new family member but they have been so sweet that it brings tears to my eyes to put it into words. I was especially worried about Ev being supplanted as the youngest but, honestly, being the big sister suits her SO well and I think she's been loving it, too. 

I've also loved getting to experience this again with Josh. The way you band together during the newborn phase especially is very bonding. You rely on each other deeply and it's not always cute or pretty. 

Super grateful 💗
To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going to think she has the coolest, smartest, bravest big siblings in the world, and she's not wrong 😉
She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early on Saturday March 11 at 1:52 in the morning. 

Josh and I just had a feeling about that day (Friday), so we kept the kids out of school, went out to breakfast, and just spent our last day together as a family of four. 

My contractions started right after my 38 week appointment that morning and progressed throughout the day until around 4pm when I thought, "Mmk, I'm starting to really need to breathe through these. Better go in."

I was so convinced they were going to turn us away that it really didn't hit me that we were actually going to meet our girl that night until we'd been there for a few hours already. 

Baby girl ended up being 7lbs 15oz and 20in long!

We are all so in love. David and Evy are OBSESSED. A few times their friends have come to the door to ask them to play and they've said they'd rather stay home with the baby 😄

We are so blessed and thankful for this little girl ❤️
How to use a French hair pin. I love these things How to use a French hair pin. I love these things because they can hold up even my thick and chunky hair and I don't have a large clip sticking off the back of my head (don't get me wrong, I love a good hair clip, too)! Have you tried one yet??
This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m s This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m so grateful for it.

On the one hand, there’s so much to do to get ready for little one to join us—it’s been a while since we’ve had a newborn! I’m spending most of my free time writing and nesting, nesting and writing. 

And then on the other hand, I’m feeling pretty ready to have my body back. And by that, I mean just to be done literally sharing it with another being. You start to miss things after a while like being able to breathe when you lay on your back or not getting indigestion for eating a few grapes. 

Overall, there’s so much to be thankful for. Each little inconvenience is a blessing and I’m happy they’re there. I’ll also be happy when they’re over. For now, I’m just savoring being a mom of “older kids” (8 and going on 6) that can grab their own snacks from time to time and put on their own shoes. We’re going to be heading back to square one in a couple months and I’m sure there’s a lot we’ve forgotten!
Naturally, when we see a need, we rush in to fill Naturally, when we see a need, we rush in to fill it and fix it. On top of this, it’s hard for us to ask for help because we don’t want to be a burden to others. 

But in the process of meeting everyone else’s needs and neglecting our own (especially our need for rest), we often become bitter towards the ones we’re helping.

Instead, one of the best things we can do as a wife or mother is to assess our own needs and make sure to leave space to meet them ourself or to ask for what we need. 

It might be time to rest, help with the next meal, time alone to pray and meditate on God’s word, or allowing yourself to leave a task un-done so you can “selfishly” enjoy a hobby of yours like the rest of your family gets to do. 

In the end, making room to find joy each day may be one of the best things you do for your relationships.
30 weeks and counting down the days til we meet yo 30 weeks and counting down the days til we meet you. We *think* we've finally settled on a first name after non-stop back-and-forth and brainstorming. Any guesses?? Or.. what are your favorite baby girl names right now??
Saturday highlights 🖤 We've been trying to be s Saturday highlights 🖤 We've been trying to be super intentional with the time we spend with David and Evy recently, knowing that big changes are just around the corner! We pray with them, ask them what questions they have, take the time to explain things. I'm hoping they'll be set up pretty well for the transition of little sis coming in March but most of the work will happen after she gets here! How did you help littles prepare for baby?
Merry Christmas from the Damons! ❤️ Merry Christmas from the Damons! ❤️
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Marriage, Relationships · July 16, 2015

Habits of a Happy Marriage

Habits of a Happy and Healthy Marriage

1 Give your significant other the benefit of the doubt

We, as women, will many times roll our eyes or begin a fight because we know exactly what our significant other is going to do. Here’s an example: I ask my husband to not drop his backpack in the middle of the kitchen for the MILLIONTH time. He says “Ok I’ll move it in a minute, Chels.” I lash “Ugh, no you won’t.” Then I roll my eyes and move it myself before he has the chance to follow through. To be fair, we know our significant others pretty well. But how would you feel if you were always being judged on what you were probably going to do based on past experiences? Always allow the opportunity for change, even if it’s not likely. If you don’t you’ll be inviting a lot more nagging into your relationship than you want, trust me. This brings me to my next point.

2 Do. Not. Nag.

Not nagging can be as easy as simply rephrasing how we say things to our spouse/significant other. Example:

Nag: “Josh, why do you always forget to put your socks in the wash?”

Not nagging: “Josh, try to remember to put your socks in the wash.”

And if he says “Ok, ok, I will…” refer back to point 1.

Also, remember that we are here to serve our husbands and marriage is not 50/50. Many times you will need to do more than “your share” of the work, and that’s what we signed up for when we said “I do.”

3 Be kind

To make things pretty simple, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself (Proverbs 11:17).” also “A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath (Proverbs 15:1)” These two truths really say all that’s needed to be said. Wouldn’t you rather stop a fight sooner rather than later and not have to deal with so many apologies later?

4 Don’t forget to have fun!

Sometimes I can get into severe busy-body mode when I get so caught up in getting things done and needing my husband’s help and bla bla bla that he’ll sometimes make a joke and I completely forget that I can laugh. When busy, I am almost always, by default, on edge. I need to consciously remind myself to not take myself so seriously, to slow down, and remember that I can be busy and still have fun. Being able to laugh with your significant other will strengthen your friendship and ultimately protect your relationship from complacency. It’ll be great in the good times and bring you closer together in the hard times.

5 Quick forgiveness

There will be times when our significant other messes up. There will be times when we are clearly wronged. In those times, it is best to forgive, and forgive quickly. Don’t get me wrong- this is not easy. Everything in us demands justice and vindication- but marriage isn’t about justice. It’s about humility (just as apologising is humbling, so is forgiving), it’s about service, and it’s about love. And in the times when you find it the most hard to forgive, repeat this to yourself until you can “Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive (Colossians 3:13).”

6 Unconditional Respect

Emerson Eggerichs writes in his book Love & Respect, “We asked 7,000 people this question:  ‘When you are in conflict with your spouse or significant other, do you feel unloved or disrespected?’  83% of the men said ‘disrespected.’  72% of the women said ‘unloved.'”

We many times assume that in marriage our husband owes us unconditional love, even when we are at times not very lovable. On the other hand, however, our husband needs to earn our respect and, in that case, can lose it in an instant. According to Dr. Eggerich’s statistics, men need to feel respected just as much as women inherently feel the need to be loved. Not sure how to help them feel respected? Refer back to the previous points for help.

7 Unplug

I’m not going to go into detail here. Basically, you know what you should do. If you find yourself “hanging out” with your spouse just staring at your phones, tv, laptops for an extended period of time- just give it a break. Put your electronics in another room. Go on a walk. Get some coffee. Have a conversation that is not circumstantial together. You won’t regret the time missed on your phone, trust me.

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In: Marriage, Relationships · Tagged: family, happy, healthy, husband, joyful, love, marriage, relationship, wife

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Comments

  1. Sue Oberg says

    July 16, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    I love this list!! And I just want to mention two things that have helped me in my marriage about picking up after my husband over and over. One, I am so glad those shoes (or whatever) are there to pick up and that it means he is in my life. Two, it is an act of service for me to do this for him. If it is bothering me, then I will do something about it that will not cause conflict between us. I am not saying we should encourage sloppiness, but there are different ways we can choose to look at this. 🙂

    • Diana says

      January 18, 2017 at 7:21 pm

      Love your point of view! Totally true.

  2. David Damon Sr. says

    July 17, 2015 at 4:16 am

    Very good stuff daughter in law. My son is a fortunate man indeed. I love you both. You are doing very well it seems. Keep up the good and hard work of marriage with the guidance of the one who makes it good!

  3. Kate says

    September 21, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    I could be better at all of these!

  4. Kara Benz says

    September 24, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    You’ve got some great tips here! I definitely need to work on being less of a nag sometimes… it’s SO hard! 😉

  5. Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says

    September 24, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    Number #1 is my go-to! I know my hubby loves me and his heart is good, but he is human and will mess up–just like me. I want him to extend me grace on my bad days, so I try to do the same for him. Great post!

  6. momwithfive says

    September 25, 2015 at 3:21 pm

    Super tips I got from your post. Thanks for sharing.

  7. Stacey @ Stacey Homemaker says

    September 25, 2015 at 5:44 pm

    THESE ARE GREAT TIPS TO LIVE BY! I’M REALLY WORKING HARD ON #2. SOMETIMES, I FIND MYSELF REPEATEDLY ASKING TRAVIS TO DO THE SIMPLEST THINGS, SO IT’S HARD TO OT COME OFF AS NAGGY, BUT I’M REALLY GOING TO WORK ON GENTLY REMINDING HIME AND NOT NAGGING!

    SOMETHING ELSE WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON, IS NOT RAISING OUR VOICES DURING A DISAGREEMENT. WE WANT TO HEAR EACH OTHERS WORDS, NOT OUR VOICES.

  8. Johnny says

    September 27, 2015 at 6:56 am

    Good advise that many could take up.

  9. Linda @ Mixed Kreations says

    September 27, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    These are all really great tips. We pretty much do everything together and I try really hard to watch how I say things so he won’t think I’m nagging. But we do probably need to practice # 7 a little more often.

  10. Allison Jones says

    September 27, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    These are great tips! My husband and I live by most of these, but we definitely need to do a lot more unplugging. We are planning a no electronics allowed trip for next summer and I can’t wait.

    LiveLifeWell,
    Allison Jones

    • Chelsea says

      September 27, 2015 at 2:48 pm

      That sounds great! I’ve been wanting to do that also!

  11. Diana Elle says

    September 28, 2015 at 10:09 am

    I agree with all of these points, very necessary to be happier together!

  12. Betsy @ Happily Ever After, Etc. says

    September 30, 2015 at 3:45 am

    Marriage is not 50/50… I needed to hear that! Most days I preach that it should be while expecting 80/20 (on his side) and feel like I’m doing 80/20 (on my side) when I’m not! Definitely something to work on.

  13. Chrissy says

    October 21, 2015 at 2:15 pm

    Great post – awesome tips! I guess we can all use a little help here and there to make it easier on ourselves. The nagging one, yeah, I think I should go back and reread it! haha

  14. Danielle says

    October 21, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    These are great, especially number 1. It’s hard for me not to act based off of what I know my husband will do or not do. I’m trying to get better though! Thank you for posting 🙂

  15. dixya @ food, pleasure, and health says

    October 21, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    while im not married, i do feel like i am nagger esp when it is something i need it done. thanks for sharing these tips.

  16. Karen says

    October 21, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    And I’d like to also add to choose your battles… and I mean that you really need to think if this is actually a big deal. Most of the time, its not. I’m always so grateful for my husband that I forget the small stuff!
    xx, Karen
    Glam Karen

  17. Kelsie says

    October 21, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    Yes yes yes, these are huge! Thanks so much for sharing! Loving your content lately 🙂

    • Chelsea says

      October 22, 2015 at 2:52 am

      Thank you Kelsie

  18. Jill @ RunEatSnap says

    October 22, 2015 at 1:35 am

    I love #6 – men need to feel respected while women need to feel loved. So true! I recently read “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” and it was very eye opening the differences between men and women!

  19. Crazy shenanigans says

    October 22, 2015 at 2:38 am

    All good points!

  20. jessica says

    October 22, 2015 at 3:33 am

    I think I must be stubborn…I need to work on all of this.

  21. Natasah says

    December 11, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    Thank you.

  22. Sam says

    March 9, 2016 at 9:58 pm

    Awesome points!…I would only add one small tip…Don’t assume you’re talking to the wives on some of these point!…Many of us husbands do most of the cooking and house work etc…and we can fall into the victim mentality also….So thanks for encouragement:)….adhd and hoarding exists…

  23. Sasha says

    October 21, 2016 at 7:59 am

    Are you serious….?!? ‘Serve our husbands’ Eeewwww!!!! This is 2016 my dear, apart from the fact that generally speaking both ‘partners’ now work with careers even though home duties is usually more hours… it is a two way street… and couples that keep it closer to 50/50 are certainly being more geniune! Given that it’s not 1930!

    Closer to 50/50 for the most part, but the world still has a fair way to go regarding equality.. Not to forget that plenty of (Australian) Men at least are doing far more of the house work and child care these days. Or, perhaps men of any Nation without these outdated thoughts on the matter!

    I am seriously sorry for you, as you seem to be quite young.

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Hi! I'm Chelsea and we're the Damon's. We spent the last two years in WA state paying off student loans and just bought our first house in SC! I love a smooth black coffee, Josh's first love is the Seattle Sounders. Our kids are huge dorks and constantly make us laugh and we all love spending as much time outside as possible.

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Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, it's so funny how some parts of the newborn phase have been like muscle memory and others have been like we've had our first born all over again. 

We were worried about how David and Evy would feel with this new family member but they have been so sweet that it brings tears to my eyes to put it into words. I was especially worried about Ev being supplanted as the youngest but, honestly, being the big sister suits her SO well and I think she's been loving it, too. 

I've also loved getting to experience this again with Josh. The way you band together during the newborn phase especially is very bonding. You rely on each other deeply and it's not always cute or pretty. 

Super grateful 💗
To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going to think she has the coolest, smartest, bravest big siblings in the world, and she's not wrong 😉
She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early on Saturday March 11 at 1:52 in the morning. 

Josh and I just had a feeling about that day (Friday), so we kept the kids out of school, went out to breakfast, and just spent our last day together as a family of four. 

My contractions started right after my 38 week appointment that morning and progressed throughout the day until around 4pm when I thought, "Mmk, I'm starting to really need to breathe through these. Better go in."

I was so convinced they were going to turn us away that it really didn't hit me that we were actually going to meet our girl that night until we'd been there for a few hours already. 

Baby girl ended up being 7lbs 15oz and 20in long!

We are all so in love. David and Evy are OBSESSED. A few times their friends have come to the door to ask them to play and they've said they'd rather stay home with the baby 😄

We are so blessed and thankful for this little girl ❤️
How to use a French hair pin. I love these things How to use a French hair pin. I love these things because they can hold up even my thick and chunky hair and I don't have a large clip sticking off the back of my head (don't get me wrong, I love a good hair clip, too)! Have you tried one yet??

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  • So I know the title of this post says, “What men want most in a wife,” but to be more realistic, this is about what men need most in a wife. Like men, there are a lot of things that we (women) would really like in a husband. Like, it’d be a huge plus if he looked like Chris Hemsworth. But that’s not really what we need in order to have a positive relationship with our spouse. If we married him, we probably think he’s pretty cute, anyway. Take a look at these 5 things a man really needs in a wife, and if you can think of anything else, share your thoughts in the comments below! 5 Things men want most in a wife
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  • Sure, they say don’t go to bed while you’re still angry, but sometimes husbands and wives just need some space! That being said, there are healthy ways and unhealthy ways (productive and hurtful, if you will) to get space away from a spouse. Let’s talk about those. The Right and Wrong Way To Give Your Spouse Space

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Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, Anyone see our other kids lately?? 😜 You know, it's so funny how some parts of the newborn phase have been like muscle memory and others have been like we've had our first born all over again. 

We were worried about how David and Evy would feel with this new family member but they have been so sweet that it brings tears to my eyes to put it into words. I was especially worried about Ev being supplanted as the youngest but, honestly, being the big sister suits her SO well and I think she's been loving it, too. 

I've also loved getting to experience this again with Josh. The way you band together during the newborn phase especially is very bonding. You rely on each other deeply and it's not always cute or pretty. 

Super grateful 💗
To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going to think she has the coolest, smartest, bravest big siblings in the world, and she's not wrong 😉
She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early on Saturday March 11 at 1:52 in the morning. 

Josh and I just had a feeling about that day (Friday), so we kept the kids out of school, went out to breakfast, and just spent our last day together as a family of four. 

My contractions started right after my 38 week appointment that morning and progressed throughout the day until around 4pm when I thought, "Mmk, I'm starting to really need to breathe through these. Better go in."

I was so convinced they were going to turn us away that it really didn't hit me that we were actually going to meet our girl that night until we'd been there for a few hours already. 

Baby girl ended up being 7lbs 15oz and 20in long!

We are all so in love. David and Evy are OBSESSED. A few times their friends have come to the door to ask them to play and they've said they'd rather stay home with the baby 😄

We are so blessed and thankful for this little girl ❤️
How to use a French hair pin. I love these things How to use a French hair pin. I love these things because they can hold up even my thick and chunky hair and I don't have a large clip sticking off the back of my head (don't get me wrong, I love a good hair clip, too)! Have you tried one yet??
This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m s This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m so grateful for it.

On the one hand, there’s so much to do to get ready for little one to join us—it’s been a while since we’ve had a newborn! I’m spending most of my free time writing and nesting, nesting and writing. 

And then on the other hand, I’m feeling pretty ready to have my body back. And by that, I mean just to be done literally sharing it with another being. You start to miss things after a while like being able to breathe when you lay on your back or not getting indigestion for eating a few grapes. 

Overall, there’s so much to be thankful for. Each little inconvenience is a blessing and I’m happy they’re there. I’ll also be happy when they’re over. For now, I’m just savoring being a mom of “older kids” (8 and going on 6) that can grab their own snacks from time to time and put on their own shoes. We’re going to be heading back to square one in a couple months and I’m sure there’s a lot we’ve forgotten!
Naturally, when we see a need, we rush in to fill Naturally, when we see a need, we rush in to fill it and fix it. On top of this, it’s hard for us to ask for help because we don’t want to be a burden to others. 

But in the process of meeting everyone else’s needs and neglecting our own (especially our need for rest), we often become bitter towards the ones we’re helping.

Instead, one of the best things we can do as a wife or mother is to assess our own needs and make sure to leave space to meet them ourself or to ask for what we need. 

It might be time to rest, help with the next meal, time alone to pray and meditate on God’s word, or allowing yourself to leave a task un-done so you can “selfishly” enjoy a hobby of yours like the rest of your family gets to do. 

In the end, making room to find joy each day may be one of the best things you do for your relationships.
30 weeks and counting down the days til we meet yo 30 weeks and counting down the days til we meet you. We *think* we've finally settled on a first name after non-stop back-and-forth and brainstorming. Any guesses?? Or.. what are your favorite baby girl names right now??
Saturday highlights 🖤 We've been trying to be s Saturday highlights 🖤 We've been trying to be super intentional with the time we spend with David and Evy recently, knowing that big changes are just around the corner! We pray with them, ask them what questions they have, take the time to explain things. I'm hoping they'll be set up pretty well for the transition of little sis coming in March but most of the work will happen after she gets here! How did you help littles prepare for baby?
Merry Christmas from the Damons! ❤️ Merry Christmas from the Damons! ❤️
The 12+ hour drive is worth it 😊 The 12+ hour drive is worth it 😊

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