I have struggled with this one, because I know many women, who won't agree with what I am about to tell you. I felt it necessary to write this, because, so many friends of mine, are having hard marriages unnecessarily. Please, try this out before you put down what I am getting ready to share with you. Having been through all kinds of relationships, I've learned allot.

As a girl, we all dream of homes where everyone is happy and smiling all the time. When we grow up, reality rears it's ugly head. We end up with homes that are like battle fields. I just want to share some things I've learned by God's grace, that really changed my home and gave us peace within these walls! Please, before you decide , this isn't for you, give it a try. You will see a difference!

   Too many times, we feel like our husbands expect too much from us. The reality of it all is, we are usually expecting too much from him. Don't get all mad at me now and send hate mail to me. I can say this now, but I didn't always see it this way. Does your husband spend many hours at work, providing for your family? Do you work outside the home as much as him? If you do work outside the home as much or more than him, you should expect him to do just as much around the house as you do. But please, don't dump the whole load on him unless he is being "Mr. Mom". If you don't work, away from home, no where close to the amount he does or, not at all, you really should not expect him to do allot of anything, when he gets home. Realize, he is tired from working long hours to provide his family with all their needs. He should not come home from a hard day at work, to face a hard night at home. Don't throw the baby at him and run out the door the moment he comes in, shouting" it's your turn".

There is this thing called, husband abuse. You don't have to beat him up literally, to be beating him emotionally .When your husband comes home, you should :

Have the house clean.

Have the children dressed and ready to greet their father.

Have his dinner ready( if he is usually hungry when he first gets home).

Be dressed yourself, somewhat nice to greet him.

Even put on make up for him.

Make sure he always has clean & dry clothes hug neatly ready to wear.

Pamper him alittle, keeping in mind, he is working really hard for all of you.

I have a few suggestions:  Let him relax , before you begin telling him how horrible the kids were today, and, the cat had her kittens on his favorite shirt, and the dog bit the mail man ect, ect........

Tell him to sit while you get his something to drink.

Preset the table, and make it look nice for him.

You want him to feel as if, his home is his haven, to come to when his hectic day is through.  After dinner, let him, watch TV or get on the computer, or what ever relaxes him and gives him pleasure, while you clean up dishes. Remember: if you want to be happy, you want him to be happy, and to go ahead and do the dishes and clean the kitchen, will make both of you happier. Then you don't get depressed from looking at the mess.

When the kitchen is clean, play with the kids a while. You can ask him to join you, but don't get mad if he just wants to do his own thing. Get the kids to bed early in the evenings, so both of you can relax. Offer to run him some bath water ( maybe even offer to join him, if there is enough room).Then, at the end of the evening, let him know you are proud of him. He works so hard to provide for the family, he deserves some praise! Let him know, you feel lucky to be his lady! He may not be good with words. He may not pay compliments often, but give him alittle time. These things are sure to cause some positive reactions! Try this for a while and just see if your home doesn't really come to be your "Harmony House!"