Jarrett and Jacqueline Dillard will have been married 10 years in August 2021.
Who talked to who first?
Jarrett: Jackie talked to me first. We met through a mutual friend and I didn’t realize she was interested until she reached out and asked me all kinds of questions.
Who said “I love you” first?
Jacqueline: I said I love you first. I think I put it in a letter.
Did you go to the same school? Jacqueline: We did not attend the same school. I am 8 years older than him, and I tease him all the time that I was already in my career when he was still trying to figure his life out. LOL! Jarrett: Ok … I see you have jokes!
Where do you go the most as a couple? Jarrett: We eat out a lot. We love going to restaurants and listening to live music, so pre-COVID,we were always at the Phoenix Jazz Club in downtown Kansas City.
Who is more social? Jacqueline: Jarrett is more social. He is a really friendly person. I mean, people flock to him so easily.
Who is the neat-freak?
Jacqueline: Wow, that’s a great question. I think Jarrett’s clothes are neater, he has a great way of folding them and I don’t. Jarrett: Jackie does not like clutter; she will make sure there is no clutter. She will throw things away without first looking at them. She does not like to dust or mop the floor. Please don’t ask her; she will not do it.
Who is the most stubborn?
Jacqueline: I am definitely the stubborn one. Yeah, it’s crazy! I can compromise, but not without making a point about it.
Who wakes up earlier?
Jarrett: I used to wake up early but after being with Jackie so long, I tend to sleep in more than usual.
Jacqueline: I tend to get up earlier now because our son, who is six, wakes up early to wake me up to make his breakfast.
Where was your first date?
Jacqueline: Jarrett won movie tickets for two at my sorority’s holiday party, and he knew I liked him, and I made it known that I’d be going with him. And that was that. (smile)
Who has the craziest exes?
Jacqueline: Jarrett has the craziest ex, and she is still crazy. Jarrett: True!
What is your secret to making marriage work?
Both: Putting God first! We know that is what people say all the time, but it works. Jacqueline: I also think our marriage works because #1 we like each other; we genuinely like being in each other’s company. Our marriage works because we know what we are capable of, we don’t try to do more than required. Jarrett: Pick your battles. Know your partner’s personality and accept it and complement it. My wife is older than me, and I’m ok saying she makes more than me, so she is wise beyond measure, but she recognizes I’m still an equal partner in this household
How did you figure out the household chores?
Jacqueline: We have a good balance, when I’m not feeling something, he will pick up the slack and vice versa. Jarrett: I handle the trash, of course, for obvious reasons; it can be heavy and too much for her to be taking to the street. We honestly just know what we like to do and what we’re not going to do. But with me, I will do all the chores if I had to.
What have you learned to appreciate about your spouse that you did not know when you were first married? Jacqueline: Even though we have an eight-year difference in age, I appreciate his maturity and rational thinking.
What aspect of marriage were you most pleasantly surprised by?
Jacqueline: I am pleasantly surprised that I still enjoy it. I cannot imagine my life without Jarrett. Jarrett: I couldn’t have said it better.
What do you think is the most challenging part of being married?
Both: There aren’t challenges. It’s effortless, because we may not have all the money we want or take all the vacations, but not doing or having it is NOT a challenge we lose sleep over it.
What has been the greatest obstacle you have faced over the years?
Jacqueline: The greatest obstacle for me is my bonus daughter’s mother. I have been in my daughter’s life since she was 6, and now she is 17, and that relationship is still an obstacle for us. Jarrett: I would agree! Recognizing my wife is a partner, and not a competitor would make things better for our daughter.
What’s one thing that your spouse does that makes you feel glad you married years ago? Jacqueline: I love that he is so patient with me, he’s the same then and now. Jarrett: She has always had my back. Even when I was going through with my daughter’s mother, she stood by me and did not let that hinder our relationship. Not then or now.
If you could have been given a key piece of advice before marrying, what would it have been? Both: The advice we received was from our pastor during pre-marital counseling. That was to put God first, be honest, and always be willing to talk it out. That advice has helped us.