Between kids, work and vacations, Summer includes a lot of opportunities to make good and bad memories for you and your spouse!

If you prefer the good ones, take a peak at 5 Summer Marriage Savers that may be able to help!

5. Communication

Summer includes a busy schedule of places to go, people to see and things to do.  Keep a summer calendar that both spouses maintain.  Don't spring any new items on the calendar without asking your spouse first.  If something unexpected comes up, try to go or get whatever it was done.  Tell your spouse how you feel and ask that next time they give you more notice or understand if you are not up for it.  

Never forget to say, "I love you." as much as possible.

4. Home

Everyone from school-age thru adulthood should contribute to the household upkeep.  From folding towels to cleaning the gutters, there are age appropriate tasks for everyone.  Regardless if your home is in a house, apartment or trailer, it's home.  Make the most of it!

The more you do at home the more you can save to put into.  Barbeque, swim, play slip and slide (yes, adults too), play hide and seek, have a dedicated movie or game night.  Plant flowers in a pot or start a garden (even one indoors).  

Teach your children how to play chess or an instrument.  Show older children the basics of baking or cooking.  Allow them to take care of you one night by making dinner and planning a family fun night.Send the kids to grandmas and have a romantic night in. 

No matter what you do to solidify strong roots of "home", your marriage and children will be better for it.  Never let go of your sense of "home"!

3. Family

A cohesive family unit around summer may seem easy in jest, but the reality is that there will be some issues.  Get prepared early.  Discuss issues with each other sooner than later.  Pre-teens get needy and may long to be with one parent over the other.  Don;t fret and don;t try to discourage this.  Just set clear boundaries for chores, independent activities and friend time.  Expect teenagers to push the limits.  Be ready for the need for a new phone, sneakers, air pods and swim suit.  Again, set boundaries and never let them see you disagree about them.  This is a small but clear path to the dark side which includes disagreements, parent siding and damage to your co-parenting relationship.  This can be a rip in the fabric of your marriage.  

Pets as family members

Pets should be loved, cared for and considered by all members of the family (age dependent) unless other agreements were previously made.  A pet can encourage love and help a couple and the entire family.  

Show your spouse & family you love them with actions.

2. Spouse

I am never totally sure what came first, the spouse or the marriage, but in most cases, I would say the spouse.  

Simply put, the marriage is your relationship, an institution of the love and trust you have for one another.  Violate it and you expose each spouse and the marriage to potential hardship, to say the least.  Care for it, consider it and celebrate it every minute of your life.  A marriage is like a heart that pumps blood through your body; your actions will continually and naturally preserve the life of your marriage.  

Your spouse comes before the marriage

If you believe there is only one person you can truly love, and you have found that person, then you have to value your spouse more than your relationship, more than your marriage.  Your spouse's happiness and needs must come before your need to have him/her in your life.  However, your love for someone and willingness to FIND A WAY to make it work is the second greatest gift a marriage can assume.  The first being your children. 

Many religions do not support divorce.  I truly feel their purpose is not to keep two spouses in an unhappy marriage.  It's meant to make people work through those problems every couple is bound to face at one time or another, those problems that a divorce may seem an ideal solution to settle.

Don't undervalue the love your spouse has for you. Don't assume a position of responsibility for his or her happiness, but instead assure your own.  Neither spouse is charged with the task of the sole upkeep of the marriage or the individual.  But both must be healthy, able and willing to create an environment of love that includes empathy, sacrifice, compromise, trust and faith in one another.  This is the strength of their unity.  

Consider each other's love languages.  Try to understand why certain things are important to that person.  This is a perfect example of how each spouse can thrive in a long-term relationship such as a marriage.

Finally, but not last, put your romance, lovemaking and sensuality first on your list of honey dos.  Make sure you consider what you need and what your partner needs to maintain a long marriage.

May each spouse maintain control of his/her happiness, success and sense of self while honoring the couple's marriage with the elements it needs to demonstrate the strength of love every single day!

1. Self-Care

This is the number one thing to do if you feel your marriage is at risk.  You are one half of the marriage and incredibly important.  If you are not well in mind, body or spirit it will damage your ability to be a healthy contributor to your family at home and work.  Moreover, it will prevent you from achieving personal satisfaction and happiness, something important to achieve a healthy marriage.

If you feel good about yourself, a loving and healthy spouse should notice and feel closer to you.  

Spouse interference "Right or wrong?"

In general, you should not request your spouse to participate in self-improvement.  Allow him or her time to see how much better you feel and look to naturally encourage the same. 

A concerned spouse may make suggestions when something is wrong with the other individual.  While its best for each individual to want to take action to make self-improvements, safety or increase his/her happiness, in some cases it may be necessary.   This should be done with love rather than agenda.  The reason one spouse would fail to maintain his/her self health and wellness should be acknowledged and worked through with the aid of a professional rather than just the other spouse.

If your improved sense of self does not factor into your marriage, then rest assured, you are not and were never the problem and counceling might be wise.

Love yourself and your life will be fulfilled and family strong!