Marriage has been such a blessing, but also a season of learning and growing. As a young wife, I’ve discovered so much in this first year. Here are a few lessons I hope will encourage other wives just starting out too.
- Learning How We Each Show Love
One of the biggest things I’ve learned in our first year is that we don’t always show love in the same way. For me, it’s little things like cuddles and kisses that make me feel cared for. For him, showing love might look more like doing something helpful or thoughtful. What I love is that even though being extra touchy isn’t as natural for him, he still makes the effort because he knows it matters to me.
2. Work Things Out In Person – Not Over Text
One of the lessons we’ve learned is that it’s so much better to talk things through face-to-face instead of over text. Texting makes it too easy to misunderstand each other or read something the wrong way. Even if it’s uncomfortable at first, sitting down and actually talking helps us feel connected and reminds us that we’re on the same team.
3. Always Make Sure They Know How You Feel
Another big thing I’ve realized is how important it is to be clear with each other about how we feel. I never want Jake to wonder if I love him or if I’m upset about something. Whether it’s saying “I love you” often or being honest about what’s on my heart, it’s worth it to make sure there are no doubts between us.
4. Sharing the Everyday Responsibilities
Something that has really helped us is figuring out a rhythm for the everyday tasks. We’ve learned that splitting things up makes life so much smoother. He usually loads the dishwasher while I unload it, I handle the laundry while he takes out the trash and vacuums. Even with our dog, I take him out in the morning and he takes care of the evening walk. It may not seem like a big deal, but having that balance keeps us from feeling overwhelmed and reminds us that we’re in this together.
5. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Not every little thing is worth getting upset over. It’s easy to get caught up in tiny annoyances, but holding onto them only makes life harder for both of us. Letting the little things go and choosing peace instead has made such a difference. At the end of the day, I’d rather focus on the love we share than waste energy on something that won’t matter tomorrow.
At the end of the day, we’re still learning as we go, but these little lessons have already made such a difference in our first year of marriage. It’s not always perfect, but it’s worth it, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
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