Do You Have a Marriage Maintenance Plan? has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DropShopAndOil #CollectiveBias
As most of you know, my husband and I are finding ways to enjoy our life in the empty nest stage of our marriage. We have been together for 30 years (yikes!) and after all that time, we still need to work on our relationship. Just like we give our cars regular maintenance and TLC we need to have a regularly scheduled marriage maintenance plan, too.
Our marriage maintenance plan is constantly changing. When our car needs service the “Check Engine” light will let us know, there is a problem. Unfortunately, we don’t have a light to tell us to pay attention to our marriage. We are committed to being intentional and making sure that our marriage is getting the maintenance it needs. Here are just a few of the maintenance tips we perform, to make sure are marriage is running at peak performance.
Just Say No!
The art of saying NO takes a little practice and a lot of determination. Now that our kids are out of school, it’s much easier to say, “No”, when asked to volunteer, serve on committees or organize events. As a couple we have made a commitment to limit our service outside of our home or church. Saying, “No” to other requests, gives us more time to spend together as a couple enjoying the things we love to do together. Movies, eating out, scenic drives and camping are just a few of our favorite things! Would saying “No” every now and then help you spend quality time together?
2. Let it Go!
Let it go, isn’t about that oh so popular hit movie, it’s about us. As we were raising our 3 kids, we were focused on doing as much as we could for them and sometimes the “us” was put on the back burner. No more of that! Don’t get me wrong, we love our children more than life, but they have had their turn and now it’s ours! Our kids are adults, they can fend for themselves, solve their own problems and survive without Mom and Dad, (mostly Mom) hovering or worrying about their every move. Of course we still worry, but being able to let the grown up children make their own choices and do their own things, gives us more free time to do us!
Use your free time wisely. Take a Bible study class together, go for a walk, share a dessert, cuddle on the couch, just be together. PS..turn of the tech!
3. Schedule Maintenance
We have older model cars, that require routine maintenance on a regular basis. It’s important to our family that our vehicle engines are running clean and strong for a long time. Pennzoil High Mileage is specially designed to help to reduce leaks and oil consumption in late model engines likes ours with over 75, 000 miles on them. All Pennzoil products help clean out sludge lesser oils leave behind. Pennzoil is designed for complete protection and will allow you to drive an extra of 550 miles per year vs. a dirty engine. No other motor oil provides better protection from friction. No one likes friction!
If we want our relationship to continue to work at peak performance and keep going for years to come, it needs maintenance, too. Make sure you are taking time to prevent the friction in your marriage. Spending time making sure your spouse is getting what they need and is happy with the way things are “running” in your relationship is of utmost importance. Perform daily, weekly and monthly marriage maintenance plan. The investments will pay you back in a lifetime of memories and happiness.
While you car is getting maintained with an Pennzoil High Mileage Oil Change, you can have a date night at Walmart. Do some shopping. Pick out a few DVDs, steaks and ice cream for a fun date night at home. Hold hands, laugh and enjoy the quality time you can spend together no matter where you are. Maintenance is important!
4. Appreciate Each Other!
You need to become your spouses biggest supporter and fan! Use sincere words and simple tokens of affection to show your appreciation. The little things cam mean a lot!
When you have been married for 26 plus years and together as a couple for 30 years (WOW, I am old) you sometimes can start to take each other for granted. Show your spouse how much you truly appreciate them. Simple text meassages, a love note in the lunch box, breakfast in bed, a favorite dessert, flowers just because, taking the car to Walmart for an oil change, all of these are small gestures that could mean the world to your spouse. Small gestures are a great way to remind your spouse that you appreciate them and want to spend quality time together, probably sooner than later.
How do you and your significant other spend quality time together?
Speaking of quality time together, wouldn’t a Pennzoil Richard Petty Driving School be an awesome couples experience? I know my husband would love to make this part of our marriage maintenance pln! Be sure to enter and tell your friends too!
Pennzoil Richard Petty Driving School “Experience of a Lifetime” Giveaway
Michele Brosius
@just2sisters2
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I wish any of the Walmarts in my area had this. Years ago they did do some of this but then they closed all the auto centers down.
I am glad I don’t have to drive far to the closest Walmart Auto Center. I like being able to shop and get car maintenance at the same time.
This is so important - both the car maintenance and the marriage maintenance! We’ve been married almost 11 years, but maintenance is still so important to keep our marriage at its best. Thanks!
Wishing lots of love and happiness in the years to come!
Finding us time really can be a challenge. I need to work on this more despite how busy I am.
Will we ever have enough time for everything we want or need to do?
Our Walmart just expanded their service facilities and we started using them for oil changes. We found that it is usually done in the time we take to go grocery shopping!
The Walmart Auto Center definitely is a time saver!
Time together is important, but so is having other interests. It’s a delicate balance.
We definitely have our own interests, too. More time for everything would be great!
I love that my husband and partner for 15 years takes care of our car maintenance. I think our weekly date nights helps to keep us in check.
We finally have weekly dates, now. Took us a few or 20 years to get in the habit.
What a fun post! It’s so important to take care of our relationships the same way we take care of our cars. Too bad there’s not a 1-stop relationship shop like there is for oil changes at Walmart. Thanks for sharing! #client