Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanequa Green.
Shanequa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m known as the “Wife Coach”. I was born in Arlington, VA to a single mother of two. Being raised in a single family household, I grew up thinking it was normal. But as a little girl, I knew I wanted to be married and have a large family.
Fast forward a couple of years, I graduated from high school at age 16 and then graduated from community college two years later. Shortly after establishing my career I met my future husband. I say future husband because he met all of my qualities I wanted in a Husband. (Yes, what girl doesn’t have a list). We crossed paths many times that particular day but for some reason, we never locked eyes on each other. But I was hanging out with my best friend and we decided to have some fun and get on a chatline. Did I ever think I would meet this guy who told me his name was “Jay“ (really Shawn)?
Long story short we talked on the phone for hours. We talked about our dreams, our goals and where we saw ourselves in 5 years. (Wow, he had great conversation and made me laugh). So we ended our conversation around 7am… and two hours later we were back on the phone. Two weeks later he asked to meet me in person. And so we did, he was perfect 6’5”, just a giant teddy bear compared to my 5’2” mini person). Then we made plans to meet again, and again. We went on movie dates, lunch dates. And we grew closer…A year later we were moving in together, and then we found out we were expecting our first child. Exactly four months after he was born on August 20, 2004, we decided to get married. (Why not? We were living together, we had a child to raise).
And there you have it two people who loved each other married with no clue as to what it took to be a Husband & Wife. The only person that I knew was married was my grandmother, but by the time I was born she was a widow (but I saw the love she had for my grandfather and I admired her for it.) Now my husband came from a huge family with long, strong marriages. No one could prepare us for what came next. The advice we received was the first five years are a struggle. (Wow…OMG…they were so right) But to be honest, it was the first seven years for us.
During those years we had two additional kids, which added more stress on us parents and our marriage. During the pregnancy of our third child was a time I called “Fallin in Love Again”. Although we loved each very much, but somehow during those seven years we grew apart. I knew we weren’t doing things correctly and someone needs to figure out what we were doing wrong. So I turned to my pastor. He explained to me from a man view as to what a husband was and supposed to do. But he then told me I couldn’t tell your role as a wife because I am a husband. He asked his wife to come to speak to me. And she explained my role as a wife from God plan for a Wife and Husband. At that moment I knew I was doing everything wrong for years and I needed to make some changes and open my heart and forgive my husband for any and everything that may have happened in our past if I wanted our marriage to continue to grow.
On the day I gave birth to our third child (our Babygirl). I began to fall in love with my husband again, I say again because that was the first time I saw a growth in him, I saw that he was honored to be my husband, I saw that he admired me as his wife, He was able to apologize wholeheartedly about the past. He began to show me that Divorce wasn’t an option for us. And as the years past, we were hit with difficulties that no one could prepare us for and caught me by surprise. My husband suffered a “mild heart attack“ at the age of 34. At that moment I realized that although we had been married for all of this time, I wasn‘t prepared for that moment and never wanted to experience again. We changed a lot as a couple, we changed how we think, what we ate, how we communicated, and how we prayed. And we recommitted our marriage with our children for a second time for our 10th wedding Anniversary with friends and family.
Fast Forward again to 2019, we are still going strong, been together 18 years, married for 14 1/2 years, and now four kids later (Jaylen..2, Nevaeh,8…JoVaughn,12…Shawn Jr,14). I am currently working full time, in school full time to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration all while being a full-time Mom. My husband is maintaining a successful career. And currently starting his own business with our two oldest sons.
Often I am asked, “How have you been married so long?” And “How are you doing it so well?” Hearing those questions made me think why are people struggling in their marriage? What could I do to help another wife? So I started “Phenomenal Wife” as a Wife Coach I wanted to help other women & wives to be successful at marriage. My advice to any wife or anyone considering to get married. Marriage isn’t a game, learn your role as Husband & Wife, work on effective communication skills, learn to compromise, learn to forgive, support your husband or wife, make them your top priority and open your heart and Keep God 1st at all times.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being a Business Owner, Mom and Wife and Wife Coach, plus a student are very hard jobs to joggling at once. There are times when I am mentally and physically drained but I know I have to keep pushing. And God gives me the strength to keep going. I can honestly say out of all of these titles and roles that I carry everyday the hardest struggle to overcome is being married. Every relationship or marriage has its struggles that is normal; it is those are the “Seasons of Marriage”. You have moments when everything is great and then you have times when you feel like a tornado has blown through your marriage. But I remind myself that I am blessed to have a husband that loves me and supports me; we work everyday to be better than the day before. And I am truly grateful for every struggle!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Phenomenal Wife – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is Phenomenal Wife. I am a Wife Coach & Founder of Phenomenal Wife. Based out of the Washington, DC metro area.
PHW mission is to strive God 1st, our Husbands 2nd, and uplift and support other wives & women who desire to be married. All while serving and giving back to our community.
I am most proud of my company now with the overwhelming response from women and wives who struggle with marriage but what to be successful at marriage.
What sets PHW apart from other wife groups is our focus to help and uplift women & wives. In every relationship or marriage, women go through a period where you feel lost and feel like giving up. PHW provides women with a safe place, to cry, to heal, to be heard and strategies to get them back on the path of being a Phenomenal Wife.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plan in the future is to growing this group across the United States.
And began having more speaking engagements to encourage and uplift every women to be successful at marriage.
I am currently writing a book “How to become a Phenomenal Wife.”
Pricing:
- Speaking Engagements $200-$1000
- Wife Coaching (via phone call) $25 per hour
Contact Info:
- Phone: 240-204-2582
- Email: phenomenalwifegroupmd@gmail.com
- Instagram: phenomenalwifegroup
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/phenomenalwife
- Twitter: phenomenal wife
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
