Susan Merrill's Blog, page 7

Are You a Maid or a Mom?

Are you a maid or a mom? The answer to that question really matters when it comes to figuring out how to get children doing chores regularly. A maid serves. She does all of the work because it’s less frustrating than figuring out how in the world to get her kids to pitch in. A mom trains. She knows that if she doesn’t, she’ll be wearing that maid’s uniform forever. I’ve seen it in my own house with my kids—if they know I’ll eventually get around to doing the housework, they don’t worry about...

Why You Need a Relationship Bucket List

Have you ever made a bucket list? They are a fun and practical way that can help you connect with someone, and also something you can do in all phases of life, with all types of people that you love.

A relationship bucket list isn’t just something that you want to tackle before you pass away—make it a game! Bucket lists encourage you to spend time with those whom you love, helps to create memories through having common experiences, and solidify heart connections. What are we doing that creat...

5 Things We Wish Our Spouses Knew

When Mark and I had young kids, I spent most of my time at home with the children. While being a mom was my main focus, I craved a creative outlet and I pretty much became a professional volunteer. Mark didn’t understand that. He couldn’t imagine why I’d want more on my plate. “You don’t get me!” I would say to him when he would try to talk me out of adding more to my life. He was trying to help me but I felt like he was crushing my spirit. Getting to know each other well takes time and effor...

School Options: From Someone Who Has Done It All

It is rather bold, I admit, to say that I have done it all when it comes to school options. But I have participated in almost every kind of schooling. I have had at least one of my five children in the following:

            Elementary school–public, private, private home, charter

            Middle School–public, private, public online, charter

            High School–public, public online, military, dual enrollment

            College–public, private

It sounds crazy, but my kids are all cra...

Couples Who Out Love, Have Marriages that Outlast

Are you a competitive person? The popularity of reality shows and sports attest to the fact that most of us enjoy the competitive aspect of an individual striving to be the best. Unfortunately, my competitive drive must be satiated as a spectator for I cannot sing, run, or come up with an idea innovative enough for Shark Tank.

There is one exception. In this challenge, I can (and clearly I am commanded) to compete.

Matthew, the apostle, must have been a competitive man. He asked a question th...

5 Unfair Expectations I Have of My Husband

Before we got married, Mark and I went to premarital counseling.  At the first appointment the counselor gave us a test. At the second appointment we reviewed our results.  Before he started the review the counselor asked us, “So, do you two have a date?” We answered, “Yes, on March 4th.” We were 6 months away.  He then said something that should have alarmed me more than it did. He said, “Would you consider changing it?” 

The counselor then explained that Mark and I were very different in ou...

Connections Academy

This is a partner deliverable. Jaz will write. Promoting school choices.

Must Do’s and Don’ts for Your Marriage

In every wedding, you will hear the “Do you?” questions. Do you take this man…? Do you promise to…? Perhaps, if you are like me, you have heard them so many times you almost tune them out. However, these questions and our affirmative “I do” commitment are the substance of what marriage is made of and cannot survive without. 

To love well, there are things we must do and don’t do in our marriage. The foundational list for how to love well originates in 1 Corinthians 13. It is often read at wed...

3 Secrets to Keep Motherhood in Perspective

When we bought our “forever” 1920’s house and spent a year renovating it, I remember thinking, It’s a shame I won’t ever do this again because I know so much more now that I have walked through the entire process.

Now that my oldest child is 27 I am thinking the same thing, It’s a shame I won’t ever do this again because I know so much more now that I have walked through the entire process! I made some adjustments to my parenting as I went along, experimenting on the oldest and applying what...

6 Things that Keep an Emotional Connection in Marriage

It’s important to keep an emotional connection as a couple, and Mark and I have learned some ways to make that happen. I say make that happen because if you don’t put your mind to staying connected to your husband, a thousand other things will get in they way of doing it. Or, in my case, 5 children — even though I loved them —  had a habit of getting in the way.

These 6 things will help you stay connected to your husband:

Be courteous and kind to each other.

Much of courtesy begins with the...