Why Couples Should Watch ‘Tidying Up With Marie Kondo’ Together

By now, you’re either Team Declutter and ready to pledge allegiance to Marie Kondo, or you’re so over all the hoopla surrounding the new Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Either way, you and your partner should really sit down and catch a couple of episodes together.

The show features the world famous tidying expert as she helps people clear out the clutter in their lives, with the end game to “choose joy.”

And while we can definitely get on board with this concept, especially when it comes to cleaning out those overstuffed and underused toy bins, the show also unintentionally reveals a message on married couples.

A recent article for The Washington Post even calls out how stressed, exhausted and defeated many of the moms featured in the series feel when it comes to “tidying up” their homes. Needless to say, it takes a toll.

The first episode in the series, appropriately titled “Tidying with Toddlers,” focusses on Rachel and Kevin Friend, a married couple who lost their spark somewhere between running a house and raising kids. Now, they’re left with a cluttered home and damaged relationship.

As a stay-at-home mom, Rachel handles all of the tasks which fall under that title. During the episode, she shares a few ideas she’s come up with to help save her time and sanity, specifically, using a paid laundry service. Her husband, however, isn’t sold on her plan.

“We are perfectly capable of doing these things,” he says.

The statement is pretty ironic, because it’s not so much Kevin handling the household tasks, but his wife. The lovers’ quarrel pops up occasionally throughout the series, highlighting a greater issue affecting many couples with kids.

Having kids and raising a family is an incredible journey you experience with your partner, but it’s also life-changing. Without even realizing it, you may see yourselves beginning to hold grudges against each other and poison the once super-strong connection you had.

Don’t panic. Prepare. Before baby arrives set a plan in motion so you and your significant other can figure out your shared parenting roles. And whether you’re noticing some marital problems or not, you should always look for ways to keep your relationship happy and healthy. The Lasting app is an effective and easy tool available right at your fingertips. The platform works like a marriage counselor, and lets you personalize your profile to reach optimal results.

Because if you and your partner are raising a kid together, parenting should be a two-person job.