Sharing Your Dreams

In Gottman's book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work he spoke of sharing our dreams with our spouse in order to avoid gridlock or seemingly unsolvable disagreements.
The dreams he is speaking of are the dreams you have while you are sleeping but the hopes and desires you have had often since childhood.

One of my dreams I shared with Charles is the dream for our children to grow up having eternal memories with their grandparents.  From the time I was young I remember going out to my grandparents motorhome when they would visit and play card games with them.  When I was a teenager I would visit my grandparents and my grandpa would massage my feet while we watched tv together.  Even though I rarely lived near my grandparents they always tried to make themselves a part of my life.  I still cherish my memories with them.

You can tell from all the grandchildren wanting to be close to grandma and grandpa how much they were loved.

Our children were blessed with two amazing grandmothers.  They both adored all of their grandchildren and devoted a lot of their time strengthening their relationships with them.  Unfortunately both have passed on.

Grandma Sherry never missed a dance recital and always brought flowers with her.

Those big smiles radiate their love for their Grandma Vicki

After talking about my dreams Charles and I were able to discuss ways to help our children's grandpas become a part of the kids lives if they choose in order to build bonds like they had with their grandmas.

Sharing your dreams with your spouse can strengthen your bonds.  And...as you work together as a team you are more likely to make those dreams become a reality.