National Marriage Week is observed annually from February 7th to February 14th. It offers a poignant reminder of the significance of commitment, love, and partnership in our lives.
Marriage is more than just a legal contract or a societal expectation; it's a profound commitment between two individuals who choose to navigate life's challenges hand in hand. It's about supporting each other through thick and thin, embracing each other's flaws, and celebrating each other's successes.
“National Marriage Week serves as a reminder for couples to prioritize their relationship amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”
One of the most beautiful aspects of marriage is its ability to evolve. It is in this spirit that we challenge you to do each of the following for National Marriage Week.
Purchase Your Valentine’s Day Gift
Wednesday, 2/7/24
As of Wednesday, 2/7/24, Valentine’s Day is a week away. This gives you enough time to prepare and purchase a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift.
We asked wives what they really wanted from their spouses, and they told us. They didn’t bring up chocolates and flowers, they brought up doing the chores.
In dual income households where men and women earn around the same, or women earn more, women still do more household chores. Particularly the chores that need to be done daily. This creates stress and resentment, and can lead to divorce.
For many husbands, the greatest Valentine’s Day gift we can give our wives is the commitment to tackle more chores.
Eve Rodsky New York Times bestselling book and Reese’s Book Club Pick, Fair Play, is a gamified life-management system that helps partners rebalance their domestic workload and reimagine their relationship. Her book was also the inspiration for the Apple TV documentary Fair Play.
Your National Marriage Week Challenge for 2/7/24 is to review the Fair Play System and commit to using it, or a similar system, to tackle a more equitable share of the household responsibilities.
Gather Ideas from Eve Rodsky
Thursday, 2/8/24
Modern Husbands Podcast
Fair Play: A System for Spouses to Manage the Home
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Eve Rodsky transformed a “blueberries breakdown” into a catalyst for social change when she applied her Harvard trained background in organizational management to ask the simple yet profound question: What would happen if we treated our homes as our most important organizations?
Her New York Times bestselling book and Reese’s Book Club Pick, Fair Play, is a gamified life-management system that helps partners rebalance their domestic workload and reimagine their relationship. Her book was also the inspiration for the Apple TV documentary Fair Play.
Eve Rodsky received her B.A. in economics and anthropology from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Questions answered by Eve
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:28 What do husbands have to say after experiencing the Fair Play System?
00:04:20 What prompted building out the Fair Play system?
00:12:15 Can you walk us through the basics of your Fair Play system?
00:24:39 A brilliant example of success using the Fair Play System that husbands will love.
00:31:01 Whey men hurt when they don’t have a role in their home
00:37:48 How do you work with your spouse to manage all of the food responsibilities?
00:44:28 Why is the Fair Play book, the Fair Play cards, or the Fair Play documentary the ideal Valentine’s Day gift?
00:45:40 Where can our listeners learn more about Fair Play?
00:46:15 Valentine’s Day Assignment
Take a Date Night
Friday, 2/9/24
Dr. Wilcox is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, where he directs the National Marriage Project and a senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies. According to Dr. Wilcox,
"Spouses who report being happy in their marriage go on regular date nights with each other."
Here are five date night ideas to draw from:
Pro Tip: If you have children, leave an optional list of chores out for the babysitter with what you would pay for the completion of each chore. You can come home from date nights to a clean home!
Play Fair Play
Saturday, 2/10/24
Reference The Fair Play System, How it Works, for questions while you use the Fair Play Cards.
Table of Contents
Celebrate the Super Bowl Together
Sunday, 2/11/24
Super Bowl LVIII Three-Part Series
Pre-Valentine's Day Surprise
Monday, 2/12/24
There is strong evidence that expected gifts on special occasions are less meaningful than the same gift given as a surprise.
Prioritize a sentimental gift. Researchers have found that a great gift giver must view the world through the eyes of the recipient. Their relationship will be strengthened if they consider what that gift means to them and the bond it will create.
Gather Ideas from Dr. Brad Wilcox
Tuesday, 2/13/24
Modern Husbands Podcast
Get Married: A Conversation with Dr. Brad Wilcox
Podcast released on 2/13/24 at 5:00 am
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🔔 Click here to listen and subscribe to the Modern Husbands Podcast on Spotify.
Dr. Brad Wilcox is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, where he directs the National Marriage Project and a senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies. Wilcox also currently serves as a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
We discussed his new book, Get Married, and the evidence-based ideas highlighting the advantages of marriage and how to maintain a strong and happy marriage.
Celebrate Valentine's Day
Wednesday, 2/14/24
Assume you and your partner are given two options.
Option 1: $200 gift card to a nice restaurant
Option 2: $40 for casual dining and $160 for a cleaning service while you are out to dinner
What would you choose? In your opinion, what is the most likely choice to lead to happiness?
During her research at Harvard, Dr. Ashley Whillans performed this study on happiness. Her research revealed that couples who made the second choice were happier with their decision.
What’s the lesson this Valentine’s Day? Surprise your spouse with a cleaner home when she comes home from dinner.
Attend our Event: Conversation with Dr. Gary Barker
Thursday, 2/15/24
On February 15th, from 8:00-9:00 ET, we will be co-hosting a conversation with Dr. Gary Barker to address modern masculinity.
Dr. Gary Barker is the CEO and co-founder of Equimundo and MenCare. He advises the UN, the World Bank, national governments, international foundations, and corporations on strategies to engage men and boys in promoting gender equality.
The event is cohosted by Equimundo, Modern Husbands, Healthy Love and Money, The Company of Dads, and The Journeyman. Registration and attendance are at no financial cost to attendees.
Click here to register.
Event topics of discussion
A reframing of masculinity through empathy.
How husbands can show their spouses they care.
When wives earn more than their husbands.
Overcoming the obstacles of being caregivers.
Helping men become closer with their loved ones.
Event participants will have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A session.
Follow Modern Husbands
Modern Husbands Podcast
Winning ideas from experts to manage money and the home as a team. 2023 Plutus Award Finalist: Best Couples or Family Content
🔔 Click here to listen and subscribe to the Modern Husbands Podcast on Apple.
🔔 Click here to listen and subscribe to the Modern Husbands Podcast on Spotify.
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