There was a time when I was the higher income earner. As I stepped back from the corporate world and shifted to part-time work, Cody continued to advance. He is very clearly the breadwinner now, and I enjoy that shift more than he probably realizes.
Payday has become a quiet ritual for us. Even though everything is direct deposit, he is required to present me with his paystub. He has to make the effort. Numbers matter. When the figures grow, he is rewarded. When I want something and the budget does not reflect it, discipline follows. Money has weight in a household like mine.
These rituals do not always happen on payday itself. Family life comes first. That is where having Ben in the house has been invaluable. He steps in seamlessly. Homework help. Dinner runs. Bike rides. He keeps the kids engaged and cared for, giving me the space I need.
That space allows me to focus on their father. To reinforce structure. To remind him where authority lives in our home. Balance like this does not happen by accident. It is built, maintained, and enjoyed.
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