7 Keys to Being a Good Spouse and a Good Parent at the Same Time

5. Make your marriage a top priority even while your kids are young. Don’t put your marriage on the back burner. Give your kids the security of seeing their mom and dad in a loving, committed relationship. Have the kind of marriage that makes them want to grow up and get married! Your kids are going to move out (hopefully), but your spouse never will (hopefully). Stay focused on your marriage or you’ll end up with an empty nest and an empty marriage.

6. Cherish the moments even when you’re in the exhausting stage of raising very young children. These times will pass by so quickly. Don’t miss them and don’t wish them away. The days might seem long right now, but looking back, the years will seem like they flew by! Be present. Savor the moments. The little things end up being the things that will matter most.

7. Keep growing in your love for your spouse. The more you love your spouse, the more capacity you’ll have to love your kids. The more you laugh with your spouse, the more laughter will fill your home for your kids. The more you pray with your spouse, the stronger a foundation of faith you’ll be imparting to your kids. The more honest you are with your spouse, the more a climate of honesty will be present in your home with your kids. The stronger you make your marriage, the stronger your family will be.