One of the deepest lessons of you adopt during your dating phase is that in marriage, responsibilities, visions and goals intentionally moves you from “I/me” to “we/us”
The sole purpose of marriage is to have a life that transcends you with a person who you truly see as an extension of you and vice versa.
It’s in seeing your wife as an extension of you that informs your decision to do chores in the house just because her getting more rest is a priority for you. Your wife’s exhaustion matters to you because in a real sense, her wellbeing has become your own wellbeing.
It’s in seeing your husband as an extension of yourself that your body itches you when you see the amount of pressure he’s having to deal with and has been socially prescribed to endure by himself. No wife with love in heart will turn a blind eye or remain completely comfortable while her husband is struggling with a burden she could help lighten.
And that is why selfishness and prolonged anger should have less and less room in a healthy marriage.
Because truthfully, how long can you as a reasonable human being stay angry at yourself?!
How long can you as a rational human being, be watching yourself suffer when you have some money kept somewhere?!
The more you skew your marriage to look like a place of I do this vs you do this, the more you create needless tension and encourage selfishness.
Let consideration and sacrifice one to one be the anchor of your love life!!! As you’re being sacrificed for, be sure you’re making attempts to sacrifice for your spouse, not because you’re counting scores, but because you truly want your presence to be felt. And yes, sometimes you will give more, other times your spouse will give more. There will be seasons when one person is stronger and the other needs to be carried and that’s completely fine too. The goal is not always to give exactly the same thing at exactly the same time but to keep choosing and happily sacrificing for one another.
That’s why you shouldn’t take ill informed advice like:
Provision is a man’s shield…
A man shouldn’t do chores…
Women do not love men…
They are all axioms rooted in selfishness, and not the truth. Find a human being whose value for you and whose love for you transcends strict adherence to “rules” which lead you both no where. Find someone who can understand that sometimes love requires flexibility, humility, service, patience and sacrifice. And just as importantly, be that person too.
A husband can provide and still wash the dishes. A wife can be deeply feminine and still be financially responsible to the family. A man can be “man enough” to provide and humble enough to serve. A woman can receive care and still be someone who gives generously.
Because ultimately, the greatest question in marriage is not “What am I supposed to get from you?” It is “How can I make your life better because I am in it?”
When both people begin asking that question, marriage stops feeling like a negotiation between two individuals and starts becoming what it was always meant to be ie a partnership where two people willingly carry each other through life.
Never forget that to love is to give and receive love!!!
Sometime last month, I was sitting in my veranda.
Then my daughter came to me that she wanted to show me her assignment.
I asked her to sit on my lap and she refused.
Me: come, sit here.
Her: No daddy, let me get another chair.
I insisted, and she obliged.
When we were done, I kissed her forehead and asked her to go. As she walked away, I called her back.
Me: I asked you to sit on my lap but you refused, why?
Her: Daddy, because it's not proper for a girl to sit on a man's lap.
Me: But I am not just any man, I am your father.
Me: I agree with you, and you should not sit on any man's lap. But you should trust your father to always protect you, and he won't harm you.
Her: Okay, daddy.
I knew my wife had been giving her all those orientations, and I was very pleased with what my daughter did.
Giving me the confidence that she's becoming more self-aware at almost 13.
Another day, I was about to drive out, and I asked her to go open the gate for me.
She was putting on shorts that were revealing her thighs.
She quietly went into her room, put on a long gown and came outside to open the gate.
I observed what she did and smiled quietly but didn't say anything.
I want to let some of you married men to know that some of these things are what your wives teach your daughters when you're not there.
And you're not so self-conscious as to even recognize the efforts of your wife.
You overlook these things and still do not appreciate your wife because she's not bringing in any money, and you think that makes her a liability or that she is not contributing much to your life.
You'll know your wife's level of moral assertiveness and discernment from the way your children behave in certain situations they find themselves in.
Especially in the public.
And especially your daughters.
Everything is not about money.
When you ask a woman what she is bringing to the table, this is part of it.
Your child will not just automatically learn morals or behavioral etiquette just like that, without a self-conscious mother.
The school, movies, church or even books may not be as effective as their mother's guidance.
And when you notice these things, do not just trivialize them or act as if they're normal or expected.
Learn to draw your wife's attention to what you observed, and thank her for her efforts.
That's why you're her husband.
End.
Your parents sent you to school as a young girl so that you can be useful to yourself and the society.
Not for you to dump your certificates, then start looking for a man to feed you in the name of "I am in a relationship".
And even when you get married, you still need to prove to your husband that you didn't go to school in vain.
It should reflect in your conduct and the conduct of the children that you have with him.
End.
10 PRACTICAL WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING SKILLS:
1. DEVELOP YOUR VOCABULARY
Build a strong vocabulary by reading widely and paying attention to how good writers use words. Watch good movies and listen carefully to the dialogue. When you come across a new or interesting word, look up its meaning, understand how it is used, and learn the different contexts in which it fits. A strong vocabulary gives you more precise and creative ways to express your thoughts.
2. READ WIDELY
Good writing begins with good reading. Read books, essays, articles, opinion pieces, and writers whose style you admire. Pay attention to how they construct sentences, develop ideas, transition between paragraphs, and make their points. The more quality writing you consume, the more naturally good writing becomes familiar to you.
3. LEARN TO STRUCTURE YOUR THOUGHTS
Before you start writing, know what you are trying to say. Ask yourself: What is my main point? What supports it? What examples can make it clearer? What conclusion do I want the reader to reach?
Good writing is not just about having good ideas; it is about arranging those ideas in a logical and compelling order. A well-structured piece should take the reader smoothly from one thought to the next without making them feel lost.
4. DEVELOP YOUR WRITING STYLE AND TECHNIQUE
Develop a recognisable writing style and learn how to keep your readers engaged, especially in an era where people have increasingly short attention spans.
Use strong opening paragraphs, proper paragraph spacing, varied sentence lengths, and techniques such as storytelling, dialogue, humour, suspense, contrast, analogies, metaphors, and rhetorical questions. Learn different writing styles and points of view, including first, second, and third person. Most importantly, understand when and how to use each technique effectively.
5. WRITE YOUR THOUGHTS DOWN IMMEDIATELY
Do not trust your memory with a good idea. When a thought comes to you, write it down, even if it is only a sentence or a few keywords. Your first formulation of an idea is often different from what you will remember later.
Keep a notes app or notebook within easy reach and capture your thoughts as they come. Sometimes the exact wording that first comes to you is what makes an idea powerful, and trying to reconstruct it later may never produce the same result.
6. WRITE SIMPLY AND CLEARLY
Do not use complicated words merely to sound intelligent. The best writers can communicate sophisticated ideas in simple language. Remove unnecessary words, avoid unnecessarily complicated sentences, and choose the clearest word available.
If a simpler sentence communicates the same idea better, use it. Your goal is not to make the reader admire your vocabulary. Your goal is to make them understand your thought effortlessly.
7. REMOVE WHAT DOESN’T ADD VALUE
After writing your first draft, read it again and ask yourself: Does every sentence need to be here?
Remove repetition, unnecessary explanations, weak phrases, and sentences that do not move the argument forward.
8. READ YOUR WORK ALOUD
Reading aloud exposes problems that your eyes can easily miss. You will notice awkward sentences, unnecessary repetition, poor transitions, and places where the writing does not flow naturally.
If a sentence feels difficult to say, it may also be difficult to read. Hearing your own writing helps you identify areas that need to be tightened or restructured.
9. EDIT IN STAGES
Edit in stages. First, check the ideas and structure, then clarity and flow, and finally grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word choice. Taking a break before editing can also help you spot mistakes you missed initially.
10. WRITE CONSISTENTLY
Writing improves with practice. Write consistently, even if it’s just a paragraph, an opinion, or a summary. The more you write, the better you become at expressing your thoughts clearly.
I went to the market today with my wife because she’s still new to the area and doesn’t know her way around very well. After shopping, I carried most of the heavier loads as we headed home.
Unfortunately, the bike riders weren’t working because they were having a meeting, so we had to walk part of the way. Along the road, we met a group of men sitting and drinking. They called me back and asked if my wife understood Yoruba. I told them no.
They then told me I was “spoiling” my wife by carrying the heavier loads, saying that too much love and pampering is what makes women eventually misbehave.
I simply smiled, told them, “Thank you, sir,” and continued on my way.
Sometimes, people will give you relationship advice based on their own experiences. But I believe loving your wife, helping her, and making life easier for her is not weakness. As long as there is mutual respect, there is nothing wrong with carrying your woman’s load when she needs you to.
Some of you in relationships have never perceived the farts of each other, neither have you perceived the foul stench from your mouth.
And you have dated for more than a a year.
Cohabit and see things for yourselves.
Una still dey form Porsche.
If you perceive mess and mouth odor, you go first fear.
That's not all ooo.
There are more.
Have you witnessed a man scratching his balls and perceiving it in your presence?
Have you witnessed a woman changing her menstrual pads in your presence before?
Have you been able to stay with your man or woman under the same roof and you're not talking to each other for days?
Have you taken care of your sick partner for days or weeks and seen them in their most vulnerable state?
Una just dey do relationship of "does it bite?"
Una never see anything.
End.
As much as I am an advocate of cohabitation before marriage, it's actually not as easy as I may have made it seem.
At first, the man will be excited because he has seen free toto (for those who are having sex).
Then, after doing multiple rounds almost every day, he starts to feel 'caged' and may be looking for excuses to send the lady away.
His friends cannot visit him like they used to, and he will also not have all those sneaky links in his house because you're occupying their space.
I felt the same way too when I started cohabiting with my wife right from my 200-level year.
Imagine two young people living together, having frequent sex, and doing things together like going to school and making sure that we are looking out for each other.
You'll feel choked.
The only break that we had was during holidays when school was closed for the semester or session.
But after the first year, it became part of us and we got used to it. And that's how we lived together until we graduated from school and continued during NYSC.
Today, we are married.
And we have been living together as husband and wife for almost 20 years, and our cohabitation during our dating years made settling down as husband and wife much easier. But it still did not prevent us from fighting.
Our first 5 years of marriage were still very tough. However, those fights were not because of our not understanding each other or knowing our flaws.
We already went past that stage.
They were mostly because of other things caused by me.
I married at the young age of 29, and most of my close friends were still single and 'balling'.
My wife wanted me to start acting like a married man, but I wanted to continue acting like a 'Married Bachelor'.
She had settled in faster as a married woman, but my eyes were still wandering (still are, but not as much).
So, for you young people who are planning to cohabit or already cohabiting, you'd most likely experience the same things.
If you persevere, you'll overcome it.
If you love your girlfriend, you'll never get tired of her toto, and you'll always appreciate her presence around you.
Remember, it's that same toto that you'd be fucking for the rest of your life if you marry her.
And it's that same person that you'd be seeing for the rest of your life if you marry her.
Cross that hurdle now, so that marriage will not be like a battlefield for you in your early years. Your quarrels will not lead to her running away to her father's house or threatening divorce at the slightest quarrel.
I hope you understand.
End.
After NYSC, we returned to Lagos to start working.
There was no time my gf came to see me & I sent her tfare.
She would climb bike, enter danfo or keke to come see me.
And I'll fuck her very well & she would bring food.
Today as my wife, I have bought her two cars.
End.
"Àgbà, if my boyfriend doesn't provide for me, how do I know that he would provide in marriage?"
If you want to know, go and cohabit with him and see how he takes charge of things. Also, study how he shows care to his siblings or parents.
If you go on dates, watch how he handles the bills. Then, observe whether he is always willing to pay back any debt he owes you.
It's not until he gives you a monthly salary, or pays your rent, or buys you expensive phones, bags, or hair that you'd be convinced.
A young man is not supposed to waste money like that. He's supposed to invest in his future.
And if you understand it and do right by him, that future investment would benefit both of you and your kids.
End.
Dear women,
I know that sometimes the challenges of life and the harsh economic reality can push you to be hard. But hardness is not your nature.
A woman is supposed to be soft, kind, feminine, and loving. You are supposed to be the joy of your man, not his opposition.
It is the 21st century. Go to school. Build a career. Make your money. Nobody is stopping you. But your independence should complement your man, not compete with him.
Your money should not be a shield against men. If you meet a bad man, no matter how much you have, he will still find a way to hurt you.
Do not for any reason think that once you make money, no man will ever mess with you. Wealth cannot protect your heart; character will.
Do not be arrogant. Do not let one bad experience turn you into someone you are not. Do not let one wrong man make you punish every right one.
How can a man give you his tenderness when you want him to see you as his rival?
A few last words:
1. Be a feminine woman, not a feminist.
2. Be teachable.
3. Do not be greedy.
4. Respect your man and adore him as your king. He will love you more for it.
5. Never cheat on him.
The right man will never make you regret being soft.
Above all, love God.
Marry a man that loves and value you, a caring man.
My husband showed extra level of care when I was pregnant with our third son( the one that fell into the well 😂)
For the first trimester, it was not a sweet experience at all, I don't throw up nor spit, but I can sleep anywhere, I can't do anything, all I do is to sleep, I just can't help it, no matter how I try, I can't cook nor do anything at all.
My husband would cook at night for dinner, and cook the food in excess so that I could eat in the morning, I sleep on the floor daily, everywhere was so hot for me, it was as if my whole body was being cooked.
Once its time to sleep at night, my husband would sweep the floor where I used to sleep and mop it too. That's how I sleep daily without clothes for three months on the floor. For those three months he covered up for me, he handled all chores, took care of the kids, prep them for school, cook. Anyday he knows cooking will take time, he goes out to buy food for the whole family.
Please marry a good man. It is when you're pregnant you will understand the importance of having a good man by your side.
I just read a DM from a married woman.
She narrated a lot to me about what she's going through in her marriage, & needs me to chat with her husband because he's also a follower.
Problem is that I don't think I can chat with him because it bothers on finance and provision.
I know men and our ego.
And it might cause more issues in their marriage.
I don't think I also want to post her DM (even though she's not a subscriber).
There are too much details in her DM that if her husband gets to read it, it would completely shatter him.
Here is what I want to say to young single women.
1) there is a difference between supporting your man and enabling your man. Don't do more than you should do for a man, just because you're desperate to get married. If you enable your man, he would relax and still low-key resent you & depend on you for survival. If you support your man, he would appreciate it, and rely on you only when it's necessary.
2) don't pay rent for your man, & don't bring a man to come live with you because he's stranded or cannot afford to pay his rent.
3) except your family wants to do anything extra to make your wedding elaborate, do not fund your wedding, just because you want to get married. You may wish to do the lighter things, but your husband should bear most of the costs of your wedding.
Here is what I want to say to young single men.
1) no woman enjoys it when she's providing for you, paying the rent and feeding you for the most part. It doesn't matter if you help her in doing the house chores or go to the market for her.
2) your wife would be highly tempted to go cheat on you because of money to cater for herself, and your children. Especially if she's not working or she's not making enough. In the DM that I just read from that married woman, she made some comments that may be pointing to that area. She said their sex life is dead. And that she has a banging body and that she is beautiful. I checked her picture and she's right.
3) do not be a habitual debtor. If you're fond of borrowing money from friends and family, and you don't pay back, you'd lose almost all your lifeline of support. No one would come to your rescue because you have burned too many bridges.
4) you should see your wife and children hungry, and keep telling your wife "what do you want me to do?" It hurts a woman to see that she has a husband, and her children are hungry. You'd push her to do the unthinkable. And she would blame you for it.
5) if your wife's family are constantly being disturbed by your wife for financial support, you'd lose all your respect from them, and if care is not taken, they may ask her to return home, since you cannot cater to their daughter.
I hope I have been able to explain things the best ways and realistic ways possible.
End.
Any woman who doesn't have inner contentment, is patient enough to work for her money and caters to her responsibilities instead of looking for a man who will do them for you.
If blood monsters used her for a ritual, she d£s£rves it.
You young women need to put your greediness in check. Be patient enough to work for your body or grow with a man working legitimately.
HeartMattaz
Texting another woman is cheating.
Giving another woman attention is cheating.
Making another woman feel like she has a chance is cheating.
Cheating isn’t just being with someone else.
If you give another woman your time and attention, you’re cheating.