As changes occur in your life, there is often a decrease in the amount of time and energy you have to invest in your marriage. My husband and I are seeing this firsthand as we adjust to parenthood. We’ve decided to be intentional about remaining connected during this busy season of our life.
While on our annual goal planning retreat, we decided to set aside time each Sunday evening to check in with one another. We’ve previously used this time slot for praying together. We’ll continue this practice, but we’ll also be asking each other questions that will help us remain connected and growing in our marriage.
2019 Update: I’ve updated this image and provided a printable version of these questions. See the post here.
There are quite a few additional questions we could ask; however, our time is limited, so we’re hoping these questions reflect quality instead of quantity.
Are there other questions you feel are essential? What things do you and your spouse do to make sure you stay connected during busy seasons?
Shared on the following link-ups:
Motivation Monday, Growing in Grace, WholeHearted Wednesdays, Coffee and Conversation, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Living Proverbs 31, Making Your Home Sing & Saturday Soiree.
Great idea and great questions!
It’s also important to keep spending time alone together (like going on a date sometimes).
Thanks, Rosie. Great point about alone time!
Amen to that!
Good questions to awaken some gestures which may not come to the surface from your partner.
Opened questions allow our partner to share their heart and the intent behind our actions.
Good stuff!
Jerry Stumpf
Hi Jerry,
It’s amazing what doesn’t get said unless a pretty direct question is asked. We love having these as a way to get the conversation started.
Love the intentional questions! I think I need to start asking some of these myself!
Hi Brittany,
I hope they benefit you!
These are great lists to get conversation going. People change as time goes by and it is important to get into and stay in the habit of being open and curious about our spouses’ lives. Marriage researcher, John Gottman, calls this enhancing our live maps, “that part of your brain where you store all the relevant information about your partner’s life”. It helps you better understand your partner’s inner world, and helps you reveal your real self to your partner. Thanks for sharing these great conversations starters.
Interesting tidbit! Thanks for sharing.
Found you on the weekend link up. Great questions! Can’t wait to share these with my husband!
We just went through them again last night and love the conversation they spark. I hope they do the same for you!
What a wonderful way to keep the communication lines open! I love this. Thanks for sharing at Motivation Monday Linky Party.
You’re welcome! It is certainly helping us.
Great blog! My husband and I have a wonderful marriage but I think it’s so important to always stay on top of it and keep that connection.
Hi Lisa,
Yes! It will likely only stay great with intentional effort. 🙂
Loved this. Looks like some good dinner table conversation tonight!
I hope you benefit from them!
Thank you for submitting to Motivation Monday!
Are you still maintaining this page? This is good stuff Shannon. Not only for being intentional and keeping the conversation open but helping revive a marriage that has gone through some stuff and is working on recovery.
Thank you for this, even 5-6 years after the initial post! It is STILL working!
I hope this finds you and your family well and thriving!
God bless you all!
Hi Dani,
Yes, I am still maintaining this page. I’m so glad this has benefited you! It is encouraging to know that something I shared is helpful to others. Thanks for letting me know. I pray these questions continue to be of help to you.