💕 How We Will Fill Our Married Life with Joy (For Moms)

🌿 Why Joy in Married Life Matters (Especially for Moms)

Motherhood changes everything — your priorities, your schedule, and even your relationship with your spouse. Amid diapers, feeds, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to let the joy in your marriage slip away.

But a joyful marriage:
✅ Supports your mental health.
✅ Creates a peaceful, secure home for your children.
✅ Deepens your bond with your partner beyond parenting roles.

Here are practical, gentle ways to refill your married life with joy, even in the busiest season of motherhood.

🥰 1️⃣ Keep Communication Open (Even If It’s 5 Minutes)

It’s normal for conversations to revolve around the baby, but your emotional connection matters too.

How to do it:

• Share one “high” and “low” of your day each night.
• Use WhatsApp/notes to send kind messages during the day.
• Practice active listening, even if tired.

📌 Gottman Institute: How to Stay Connected as New Parents

💑 2️⃣ Schedule Mini Date Nights(How We Will Fill Our Married Life with joy? ( For Mom))

Date nights don’t have to mean expensive dinners or long hours away from your baby.

Ideas:

• A cup of tea together after the baby sleeps.
• Watching a comforting show you both enjoy.
• A quick walk together with the stroller.

Consistency is more important than duration.

📌 Parenting: How to Keep the Spark Alive

🧘‍♀️ 3️⃣ Take Care of Yourself(How We Will Fill Our Married Life with joy? ( For Mom))

You can’t pour into your marriage if your cup is empty.

• Prioritize sleep where possible.
• Eat nourishing meals.
• Give yourself permission to rest.

Self-care is not selfish; it fuels your patience and emotional availability.

📌 Postpartum Self-Care Tips

🪴 4️⃣ Practice Gratitude for Each Other(How We Will Fill Our Married Life with joy? ( For Mom))

It’s easy to focus on what your partner isn’t doing, but gratitude shifts your mindset toward joy.

Practical steps:

• Thank each other for small things (washing bottles, taking night shifts).
• Write one thing you appreciate about your partner weekly.
• Verbally express gratitude in front of your children to model appreciation.

📌 How Gratitude Strengthens Marriage

🛐 5️⃣ Pray or Meditate Together(How We Will Fill Our Married Life with joy? ( For Mom))

For many moms, faith or mindfulness is a source of strength. Praying or meditating together can strengthen your bond.

• Pray together before sleeping.
• Read a short devotional or affirmation together.
• Take deep breaths together to reset during tense moments.

📌 Benefits of Praying as a Couple

🤝 6️⃣ Share Responsibilities

Resentment builds when one parent feels they’re carrying everything. Sharing chores, baby care, and emotional responsibilities is key to joy.

Ideas:

• Create a simple chore split chart.
• Trade off baby bedtime routines so each gets a break.
• Check in weekly on what’s working and what’s not.

📌 Splitting Household Labor Fairly

🌸 7️⃣ Keep Physical Affection Alive

Physical touch (holding hands, hugs, small kisses) releases oxytocin, which helps you feel closer and calmer.

• Hug in the kitchen while preparing meals.
• Sit close while watching a show.
• Hold hands during walks.

Small physical connections can reignite warmth and remind you of your love.

💡 Final Thoughts: Joy is Built in Small, Daily Choices

Filling your married life with joy as a mom doesn’t require grand gestures. It comes from:

✨ Small moments of connection.
✨ Grace for yourself and your partner.
✨ Consistency in caring for your relationship.

By intentionally nurturing your marriage, you also nurture a secure, joyful environment for your children to grow.

🛒 Recommended Reads for Moms to Build Joyful Marriages

📗 “The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work” by John Gottman
📗 “Babyproofing Your Marriage” by Stacie Cockrell
📗 “Hold Me Tight” by Dr. Sue Johnson

❤️ Need a Printable Affirmation Sheet for Moms?

If you’d like, I can prepare a “Daily Joy in Marriage” printable affirmation sheet for you to place on your fridge or phone lock screen as a gentle reminder to stay connected and joyful.

Just say “Yes” if you want this next for your personal growth and peace.

We Don’t Talk About Women’s Time

Hey, you, reading this in the middle of the night. I see you—scrolling through social media or texting friends who should also be asleep. I see you trying to reclaim some order and control over your day, which has largely been overtaken by responsibilities for others—children, spouse, a home, a job—leaving very little time for yourself.

As a CEO, founder, and mom, I feel this deeply. My habit of staying up late is my own version of self-care, and recently I discovered there’s a name for it: revenge bedtime procrastination. This describes why so many overworked women and caregivers stay up late because they crave some control of their day. Instead of resting, connecting, or being productive, we choose to scroll, snack, read, or watch TV.

We stay up late because we want to reclaim time that feels stolen by endless caregiving and multitasking. But then morning comes—we’re exhausted, short-tempered, and drained. The cycle repeats.

This cycle is not just about sleep. It highlights why women’s time is undervalued, why moms and caregivers often feel trapped, and why we must rethink the way society views women’s unpaid labor, parenting, and work-life balance.

A woman’s time is finite, just like everyone’s, but studies show women spend 40% more time caregiving than men. We multitask, code-switch between work and kids, and lose the deep focus required for creative or professional growth. On top of that, gender pay gaps, childcare challenges, and return-to-office demands only add to the strain.

Reframing the conversation about motherhood, women’s time management, and family responsibilities is essential. Recognizing and valuing women’s contributions—both paid and unpaid—creates a foundation for healthier families and more balanced communities.

There may not be an instant solution, but awareness is the first step. Go easy on that tired mama—she’s doing more than you realize.

Can Breastfeeding Protect Babies Against RSV?

According to CDC Director Mandy Cohen, RSV cases peaked in December 2023, but the virus is still circulating. While most RSV infections in babies are mild — with cold-like symptoms that resolve in a week or two — some infants, especially those born prematurely or with chronic health conditions, may develop severe illness such as RSV bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

With the ongoing shortage of RSV shots for infants, many parents are searching for safe ways to protect their babies. Statistics show that for every 100 infants under six months, one or two may require hospitalization for RSV. While breastfeeding is not a replacement for the RSV vaccine, research suggests it can provide immune protection and reduce the risk of severe outcomes.

How Breastfeeding May Help Protect Against RSV

Recent studies show that exclusive breastfeeding for at least two to four months can lower the risk of hospitalization due to RSV. Ideally, continuing breastfeeding for six months provides the most protection.

“Breastfeeding is protective against RSV and other viruses because human milk contains components that strengthen babies’ immune systems,” says Jessica Madden, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, a breastfeeding medicine and infant feeding specialist. “These include antibodies, white blood cells, lactoferrin, antioxidants, and vitamins.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months to maximize immune defense. Even partial breastfeeding (combining breast milk with formula) has been shown to lower the severity of RSV infections in infants.

What the Research Shows

A 2022 systematic review in Pediatrics found:

• Exclusive breastfeeding for 4+ months had the strongest protective effect against RSV hospitalization.

• Partial breastfeeding reduced RSV severity, length of hospital stay, and oxygen needs.

• Infants breastfed for less than two months — or not at all — were more likely to require hospitalization.

Some research also suggests breastfeeding supports lung development and may protect against long-term airway damage caused by severe RSV infections in babies.

Feeding a Baby with RSV: Expert Tips(Can Breastfeeding Protect Against RSV?)

If your baby already has RSV, feeding can be difficult due to congestion. Dr. Madden recommends:

1. Feed more often: Short, frequent feeds prevent dehydration.

2. Provide comfort: Extra holding and skin-to-skin contact help calm sick babies.

3. Use saline and suction: Clear nasal passages before feeds.

4. Steam and humidifiers: Moist air eases nighttime breathing.

5. Take care of yourself: Stay hydrated and rested to maintain milk supply.

Bottom Line

Breastfeeding offers immune protection that may reduce the severity of RSV in babies, but it should be combined with other preventive measures. Talk to your pediatrician about RSV vaccines, safe feeding practices, and infection prevention to keep your infant healthy.