If your days feel like a relentless sprint—from school drop-offs to late-night routines—you're not alone. In this short and powerful solo episode, I open up about the challenges of maintaining intimacy, presence, and intention in marriage when life gets overwhelmingly busy. With fall sports, kid activities, and work responsibilities piling up, it's all too easy to slip into "roommate mode" with your spouse. But here's the truth: Strong families start with strong marriages. I share three deeply practical ways to create micro-moments of connection, build intentional rituals, and avoid emotional drift. Whether it's through a 30-minute walk, a forehead kiss, or a late-night two-minute check-in, this episode is your reminder that you're not just co-parents—you're still each other's chosen partner. Episode Highlights [0:00] - Introduction [1:05] - Why strong marriages are the foundation of strong families [2:55] - The common trap of prioritizing everything but your marriage [4:46] - The September-October "whiplash" that hits most parents hard [5:43] - Celebrating the release of The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood [8:19] - How an unbalanced focus on your kids can erode your marriage [10:09] - The power of micro-moments: texts, sticky notes, forehead kisses [12:31] - Creative date ideas (even when time is scarce) [14:29] - Why sometimes the world has to suffer—but your marriage shouldn't [15:14] - End-of-day rituals that spark closeness even in exhaustion [17:41] - The compound interest effect of tiny deposits in your marriage [18:03] - You are more than a co-parent—you're still her Casanova [19:13] - A free 21-day email series to help you build an extraordinary marriage [20:54] - Final rally cry: be uncommon, be legendary 5 Key Takeaways 1. Strong Marriages Build Strong Families When your marriage is thriving, it naturally strengthens the emotional climate of your entire home. Don't neglect the foundation. 2. Micro-Moments Matter More Than Grand Gestures A quick kiss, a thoughtful note, or a midday "thinking of you" text can do more for connection than elaborate plans you never get to. 3. Busy Seasons Are Inevitable—Disconnection Isn't Just because life is chaotic doesn't mean your relationship has to suffer. Intention and awareness are your defense against emotional drift. 4. You're Still Her Lover, Not Just Her Co-Parent The role of "dad" is important—but don't forget you were her partner first. That romance needs nurturing, especially when time is tight. 5. Investing in Your Marriage Pays Long-Term Dividends Like compound interest, the small daily investments you make in your marriage build a future of closeness, trust, and enduring partnership. Links & Resources •

Get your copy of The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood + two free courses: https://thedadedge.com/legendarybook • •

Join the Dad Edge Alliance (Elite Brotherhood): https://thedadedge.com/alliance • •

Free 21-Day Email Series: 3 Marriage Skills at a Time: https://thedadedge.com/extraordinary-marriage/ • If this episode helped reignite your drive to be more intentional in your marriage, please rate, follow, and review the show. Share it with a fellow dad who might be feeling the weight of the season—we're in this together. Let's go out and live legendary.