A woman shares on Kidspot that she and her husband were having some issues, which came to a head when the husband decided to take a three-hour nap while the kids were awake. This lead to an argument in which the husband suggested they try out the “3x3” rule that his friend, who had seen a marriage counselor, told him about.
The basics of the rule is that each parent gets three hours a week just for themselves. They can be taken in one shot, or broken up, but regardless when it’s that parent’s time they are left completely alone and can do whatever they want. In addition, the couple also sets aside three hours for them to spend as a couple, doing whatever the want together.
"For about a month now, we’ve been implementing the new rule in our relationship, and I’m shocked at how much has shifted for us already,” she says, noting that because of it, “all the resentment, that silent cancer that eats away at marriages, has genuinely slipped away." She explains that knowing she has her “me time” scheduled makes her less testy, and keeps her from trying to sneak in some free time because she knows she has some coming.
She adds, “Am I more understanding about my husband’s newborn-level love of midday naps? Absolutely,” joking, “Does it still make me want to turn the vacuum on at full force and ram it into the bedroom door? Also yes. But hey - I’m only human."