In this episode, we open up about the weight of religious shame, family dysfunction, and unspoken grief.. and how it shaped our marriage in ways we didn't even realize. I talk about growing up in a home where silence was survival, where divorce was never an option, and where my voice often felt too small to be heard. We dive into how my parents' toxic patterns and the church expectations made me hard, made me the "strong one", and made is nearly impossible to trust anyone, including Brentt.This isn't just about faith. It's about the ways we were both shaped by what we didn't talk about, loss, pain, love and leadership, and how we're now learning to break those cycles for ourselves and our kids.If you've ever felt trapped by family expectations, faith, or silence.... this conversation will feel like a deep breath you didn't know you needed. Talking about this about grief, shame, and everything we’ve carried, reminds me just how hard it is to stay connected when life gets heavy.If you’re listening and thinking, “I don’t even know where to start with my partner,” we built something just for you.We created an eBook called Married-ish: The 30-Day Reconnection Plan, it’s packed with simple, daily steps and conversations that helped us find our way back to each other.If you’ve felt distant, stuck, or like the spark is gone… this is your starting place. We’re not promising perfect, we’re just giving you the tools we wish we had when everything felt broken.You can grab it using this link Itsbrittneelee.com/30-dayBecause connection doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen when you show up, even for 10 minutes a day.