When My Family Meets Yours

This weekend my husband and I got to travel back to Michigan to spend time with our families. As I spent time with each of our families I began to realize just a little bit more how different my family and his family are. I mean they are COMPLETELY different. Not saying one is better than the other, but just different. This got me thinking about how miraculous it is that Mark and I live together and most of the time we live together in peace. How can two people with totally different backgrounds and upbringings meld together and live in harmony with one another? 

Melding two family styles together has to be one of the hardest aspects of being married. We both come to the table with two separate ways of doing things and now suddenly we have to find a way to concoct a new way of doing life that works for both of us. Have you ever had that moment where your spouse does something and you just look at them like they are the craziest person in the world for doing it that way? This happens to me all the time. When you ask your husband why they did it that way, what is their response? Well my mom always did it this way or my dad always did it this way. The way we were raised has such a huge influence on how we live now. Daily I have to remind myself that Mark was raised differently than I was which means he will think and do things differently than I will. These small issues are not worth fighting over. They can actually be a way to learn more about each other. Who knows maybe your husband’s way of doing something is better than your way. Allow differences in your relationship. It keeps things exciting!